Although the U of S Huskies men's volleyball team narrowly missed out on Canada West Playoffs and a chance at qualifying for U-Sports Nationals,

Rookie Outside Hitter and Swift Current product Dylan Mortensen is in attendance at McMaster University in Hamilton for Nationals, receiving some prestigious hardware in the process.

After he was named the Canada West Male Volleyball Rookie of the Year last week, the 6-foot-6 Mortensen was crowned as U-Sports Rookie of the Year as well just this morning. 

"I'm just super excited and honoured to get the award. There's a lot of amazing athletes that are my rookie year and to be able to stand out and get the award mean a lot to me," Mortensen shared, adding that in a year he led his team in kills and attacks, it was truly a team effort.

"I think that my teammates definitely brought me a long way - just giving me the freedom but also holding me accountable to play the best volleyball, he said. "Also my coach Brian Gavlas having a huge role in letting me be the player that I could be and seeing my true potential in the sport."

Mortensen posted a 3.36 kills/set average, had 299 kills, 116 digs, 32 blocks, and 24 service aces, but a 10-14 record meant falling one game short of the post-season. 

Getting to take in the Nationals experience is understandably a vital one for the southwest Sask product. Despite some players on the team with past Nationals experience from the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons, passing on experience from the event is important for both individual and team growth, according to Mortensen.

"I'm just going to soak it all in and tell them what it's all about," he said. "There's been a few guys that have been to Nationals but for those who haven't, it's definitely another level - to be able to share that vision with the team will be important for us for the future."

The U-Sports Male Volleyball Rookie of the Year award marks the second in three years for the Huskies program, as current Setter CJ Gavlas received the award in the 2015-16 season.