NAME: Nick Del Bianco
UNIVERSITY: Trinity Western
CATEGORY: Student-Athlete
SPORT: Men's volleyball
YEARS ACTIVE: 2010-15
HIGHLIGHTS:
2014-15 CIS Player of the Year
Two-time CIS champion (2010-11, 2011-12)
Three-time CIS All-Canadian
Sixth all-time in CW aces (123)
BIOGRAPHY:
Over five seasons at Trinity Western, Nick Del Bianco helped the Spartans men's volleyball team cement their status as a national power.
Between 2010-11 and 2014-15 the outside hitter was a key part of Trinity Western's 88-18 combined regular season record. During those seasons, which started for Del Bianco as a member of the 2010-11 U SPORTS All-Rookie Team, TWU won Canada West once (2011-12), and two national titles (2010-11 and 2011-12).
The Spartans back-to-back CIS titles in 2010-11 and 2011-12 included a win on home court, as Trinity Western topped the nation in 2010-11 with a national championship win over the Brandon Bobcats.
Along with his team success, Del Bianco earned his fair share of individual accolades. He was a three-time Canada West first team all-star (2012-13, 2013-14, and 2014-15). In his final season at the university level, Del Bianco was the driving force behind TWU's 20-4 regular season record.
The Surrey, B.C. product finished second in points per set with 4.88, while leading the conference in aces per set at 0.57 that season. He capped off his career as the Canada West Player of the Year, while also taking home CIS Player of the Year honours.
All-time, Del Bianco remains one of Canada West's most prolific servers, sitting in a tie for sixth with 123 career aces.
After graduating from TWU, Del Bianco went on to play five years professionally, with stops in Germany, France, Switzerland, and India. He spent time internationally competing for Canada on the national B team, and is also an accomplished beach player, having won three world beach championships.
Del Bianco is currently a health and human performance coach, co-founding the Athlete Wellness Academy in 2018.
Written by Evan Daum.