By Josh Bell
Despite their competitive nature, Jérémie and Bruno Lortie are brothers who call each other best friends. And they can also now call one another national champions.
The Université Laval Rouge et Or players wrote a storybook tale in the first – and potentially last – season they ever played volleyball together on the same team.
They won the championship on their home court in Quebec City. It was Laval’s first title since 1994, and it ended a remarkable 17-year streak of victories by schools from the Canada-West conference. And both Lorties played a front-and-centre role in the gold medal match victory over McMaster – Bruno, in his rookie season, played all four sets of the final, while Jérémie was named tournament MVP.
“Being a national champion is the best feeling ever,” says Jérémie, a fourth-year middle. “It was really fun to have my best friend with me. I’ve watched him grow through his volleyball years and now being teammates, it’s just a pleasure to play with him.”
This season was a long time in the making for the former Béatrice-Desloges Bulldogs.
“I’ve wanted to play with my brother since I started playing volleyball,” highlights Bruno, a left-side hitter. “I couldn’t in high school because he was a senior and I was a junior, so I’ve had to wait for four years. Even though I was approached
by other universities, I knew I wanted to come here and play with him.”
The Lortie brothers’ lifelong relationship certainly paid dividends for Laval. Jérémie finished second in Canada with 1.23 blocks-per-set, and the Quebec conference MVP posted a hitting efficiency of .457, while Bruno added the Rookie of the Year award to his résumé.
But it was their connection on the court that truly stood out, especially during the championship run.
“We know each other’s tendencies so well,” notes Jérémie. “Sometimes I know where he’s going to set the ball before he even does. It’s that kind of chemistry that really helps us out there.”
The duo’s successful season culminated in a victory over the McMaster Marauders in the championship game. Laval won the first two sets before dropping the third, but they rebounded to take the fourth and claim the national title.
“It was an amazing feeling,” Bruno recounts. “Winning in front of our home crowd made it even more special. The support from our family, friends, and fans was incredible. It’s something we’ll never forget.”
Looking ahead, Jérémie plans to continue his volleyball career overseas, while Bruno has three more years of eligibility with Laval.
“I’m excited for what’s next,” Jérémie says. “But I’ll always cherish this season with my brother and our team. It was a dream come true.”
For Bruno, the experience has set a high bar for the future.
“This year was unforgettable,” he says. “I’ve learned so much from Jérémie and the rest of the team. Now it’s time to build on that and keep pushing for more championships.”