A former UBC Okanagan volleyball player is coming home with some hardware from the 2024 Paralympic Games.

Women's volleyball alumni Jenn Oakes and Team Canada won bronze on Saturday, Sept. 7, after beating Brazil 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-18). It's Canada's first-ever medal in sitting volleyball. The victory was redemption of sorts as Canada lost to Brazil in the round-robin play.

Oakes is also the first UBCO athlete to medal in either the Olympics or Paralympics.

"We could not be more proud of Jenn and all that she has accomplished," said Heat head coach Steve Manuel, who coached Oakes during her two years with UBCO. "This medal is the culmination of eight to nine years of hard work for her and her teammates. When she started, Canada was not yet in the conversation on the world stage. But now they are a powerhouse in the world of sitting volleyball and Jenn is a huge part of that success."

Oakes was a member of the Heat for two seasons 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ” 2016-17 and '17-18.

Canada has seen an improvement over the last couple Paralympic Games, finishing seventh in 2016 and fourth in 2020. 

"We finally did it," said Team Canada head coach Nicole Ban after the victory.

"We showed up in our third Paralympic Games, our second bronze medal match and we did it. We won. I couldn't be prouder of the athletes today, but really for the growth that we've had over the nine and a half years that I've been with the program and honestly, most of this core group has been here through it."