Four BC Volleyball Legends Named to 2026 Hall of Fame Class
Volleyball BC names Marisa Field, Dave Olynyk, John Kendal and Brenda Chinn to its 2026 Hall of Fame, with an induction ceremony on November 21.
Marisa Field, Dave Olynyk, John Kendal and Brenda Chinn will be inducted into the Volleyball BC Hall of Fame this November, recognizing decades of achievement and contributions to the sport across British Columbia.
Four individuals who have helped shape volleyball in British Columbia, from international competition to grassroots development, are being recognized for their contributions to the game.
Volleyball BC has announced its Hall of Fame Class of 2026, featuring former Canadian national team standout Marisa Field, championship-winning coach Dave Olynyk, and longtime volleyball builders John Kendal and Brenda Chinn. The four will be honoured at the organization's Hall of Fame and Excellence Awards Gala on November 21 in Richmond.
Marisa Field – Athlete
Kelowna's Marisa Field enjoyed one of the most accomplished careers of any Canadian middle blocker, representing the country internationally for more than a decade.
After playing at Kelowna Secondary and UBC Okanagan, Field joined the UBC Thunderbirds, helping the program capture consecutive national championships in 2008 and 2009. She was also awarded UBC's May Brown Trophy as the university's outstanding graduating female athlete in 2009.
Her international career included appearances at two FIVB World Championships and Best Blocker honours at the 2009 and 2011 NORCECA Championships. Field also spent 11 professional seasons playing across seven countries while continuing to mentor young athletes in British Columbia.
Dave Olynyk – Coach
For more than two decades, Dave Olynyk helped turn Mount Sentinel Secondary School in South Slocan into a provincial volleyball powerhouse.
Beginning in 1978, Olynyk developed a program that won four provincial high school championships between 1983 and 1993. His Kootenay Volleyball Club teams also captured provincial and Western Canadian titles, an impressive achievement for a program drawing largely from a small rural school.
Beyond the championships, Olynyk coached with Team BC, contributed to regional development programs and spent 20 years serving on the provincial high school boys' volleyball association executive. Many of his former athletes went on to compete at the post-secondary level or pursue coaching careers themselves.
John Kendal – Builder
John Kendal's volleyball legacy is rooted in the East Kootenays, where he spent nearly 30 years building opportunities for young athletes.
After overcoming a childhood polio diagnosis and eventually earning Okanagan College's Athlete of the Year honour in 1978, Kendal established the East Kootenay Volleyball Club.
Through decades of coaching, officiating and administration, he helped develop the region's volleyball community. His involvement continues today through local tournaments, high school officiating and support for volleyball at the College of the Rockies.
Brenda Chinn – Builder
Brenda Chinn has dedicated nearly five decades to supporting volleyball in British Columbia, often working behind the scenes to help athletes and programs succeed.
Her involvement began as a student manager at Vancouver's Eric Hamber Secondary before she became manager of the UBC women's varsity volleyball team from 1981 to 1986.
Chinn later served in several leadership and administrative roles with Thunder Volleyball Club from 2002 to 2026. She also contributed to the development of Canada's women's national volleyball training infrastructure through the Pacific Volleyball Society.
The four inductees will be celebrated at the 2026 Volleyball BC Hall of Fame and Excellence Awards Gala on November 21 at the Executive Hotel Vancouver Airport.
Their achievements reflect the breadth of volleyball in British Columbia, from national championships and international competition to the community programs that help develop the next generation of athletes.
