Chad Grimm (L) and Iuliia Pakhomenko during a ceremony before the WolfPack's Jan. 23 volleyball game in Kamloops. (Image Credit: Archie Golding/LeftRight Media via TRU WolfPack)

By Anthony Corea

VOLLEYBALL HOF

TRU’s Pakhomenko honoured by Canada West Hall of Fame induction

Jan 26, 2026 | 5:29 PM

KAMLOOPS – One of the most impactful student-athletes to ever don a Thompson Rivers University (TRU) WolfPack uniform has been formally recognized as a Canada West Hall of Famer.

Iuliia Pakhomenko arrived at TRU in 2014 and went on to break multiple program and conference records during her three seasons with the WolfPack. Inducted into the TRU Sports Hall of Fame in 2022, Pakhomenko is set to join the Canada West Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025-26.

“It is a big honour for me. I did not actually expect it or ever thought that this is going to be a possibility for me,” Pakhomenko told CFJC Today on Monday (Jan. 26). “It was a shock for me, but I’m truly surprised and honoured to be inducted.”

Pakhomenko was named a Canada West First Team All-Star in each of her three seasons with the WolfPack. In 2015-16, she was the Canada West Player of the Year and the U SPORTS women’s volleyball Player of the Year.

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Playing as an outside hitter, Pakhomenko also earned U SPORTS All-Canadian honours (First Team in 2015-16 and 2016-17 and Second Team in 2014-15) in each of her three seasons. She still holds multiple Canada West records, including first all-time in career kills-per-set (4.60), second in single-season kills (425) and points (496.5), and third in career aces per set (.502).

She also owns seven of the top ten highest kill performances in Canada West history.

The native of Donetsk in Ukraine played a key part in reshaping the competitive identity of the TRU women’s volleyball team. She joined a team that was coming off two winless 0-22 seasons, and helped them to back-to-back sixth-place conference finishes and a pair of postseason berths.

“Just that foundation of hard work. No excuses. I don’t think she ever made an excuse for anything and would just get back to work,” noted WolfPack women’s volleyball head coach Chad Grimm, who played a big part in recruiting Pakhomenko to TRU.

“I think that competitive spirit was truly the beginning of the turnaround, because it’s hard to have that when you’re not having success. I think that bringing that to practice every day helped form the program that we have today.”

Pakhomenko left Kamloops after her Canada West career for a brief stint in Calgary before returning to the B.C. interior with her husband and kids. Wanting to stay involved with volleyball, Grimm offered her the position of women’s assistant coach, and she’s into her first season in that role.

“When I came to Kamloops, I really did not think of it as settling in after I graduated. But once I graduated, I started my family and now I have kids here. It became my home, and I’m glad that I stuck around,” Pakhomenko said. “Now I can give back to the community by coaching TRU and little kids as well.”

The former TRU star says it’s a completely different feeling coaching a team. She still feels all the emotions of a crucial point or a dropped ball, and wants her team to know how special being a student-athlete is.

“I think that’s one of the biggest messages that I would like to give to the girls is to enjoy themselves,” Pakhomenko said. “Wins and losses are going to be forgotten, but your teammates, the connection that you created, will stay forever.”

Pakhomenko is the third member of the WolfPack to be inducted into the Canada West Hall of Fame, joining longtime TRU Athletic Director Ken Olynyk and men’s volleyball standout Gord Perrin.