Click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter
Jadyn Bugg, 17, from North Battleford plays in the Canadian Cup. (Image Credit: Jadyn Bugg/submitted)
LOCAL TALENT

North Battleford volleyball player wins national title, MVP

Jul 28, 2026 | 3:49 PM

A week that began with uncertainty ended with a national championship for North Battleford’s Jadyn Bugg and Team Sask 17U Green Selects at the 2026 Canada Cup. 

For the 17-year-old team captain, simply competing was the initial goal. 

“We really don’t know what our skill level was going to be compared to the teams that we’re going up against. Our main goal was to just win as many games as we can and see what we can do. As the tournament went on, obviously we were like, wait, winning is possible.” 


(Image Credit: Jadyn Bugg/ submitted)

Her team’s tournament began with a straight-set loss to Team Canada White. 

Bugg said the team struggled with nerves, execution, and confidence in the opening match. 

Rather than dwell on the setback, the players regrouped. A Quebec victory over Team Canada later dropped Saskatchewan to third in its pool, forcing the team to play an extra match to reach the championship bracket. 

Instead of slowing the team down, Bugg said the added challenge helped bring the group together. 

“We just kept pushing every single game, pretty much went to five sets. There were so many super long games, and we kept pushing and we just slowly came together as a team and win after win we got closer and closer to the final.” 

Before the championship match against Team Canada Red, Bugg delivered a simple message to her teammates: have fun and leave everything on the court. 

“Lo and behold, we ended up winning that game. It was a crazy shock because we were definitely the underdogs of this tournament.” 


(Image Credit: Jadyn Bugg/ submitted)

The celebration did not end with the gold medal. 

Bugg was also named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, an honour she said caught her completely by surprise. 

“I was definitely really grateful and honored to even receive that. I honestly didn’t even know that was an award that could be received. They said my name, at first I didn’t believe it; I think my jaw dropped to the floor,” she laughed. 

While grateful for the recognition, Bugg said the award reflected the team’s collective effort. 

“Those awards don’t go out to the bottom eight teams, you have to have a really good team in order to get those awards.” 

She said the Canada Cup MVP is among the biggest individual honours of her volleyball career, alongside an all-star selection she earned while playing 15U. 

With the national title behind her, Bugg is now turning her attention to the upcoming school volleyball season, where she expects to take on a larger leadership. She also plans to continue competing with Huskies Volleyball Club.

alyssa.rudolph@pattisonmedia.com