University of Alberta

University Of Alberta Golden Bears & Pandas

University Of Alberta
Golden Bears & Pandas

Golden Bears Volleyball 6/1/2021 9:38:00 AM Connor Hood

2021 SWOF Inductee - Pascal Cardinal

Golden Bears volleyball star inducted into Sports Wall of Fame

The Golden Bears Volleyball program has had incredible success at producing and developing some of the most talented attackers in Canada. And now perhaps the one who had the most distinguished university career, Pascal Cardinal, '03 SCA, has found a spot on the University of Alberta's Sports Wall of Fame.

Cardinal personified the definition of his position, power hitter, in every sense of the title. From the moment he first stepped on the court with the Bears in 1998, to his final match in 2003, the Pincourt, Quebec product was an absolute force.

A star youth athlete in Quebec and member of the Canadian Junior national team that finished fifth at the 1998 World Junior Championship, Cardinal made an immediate impact in the Evergreen and Gold. He won both the Canada West and CIS Rookie of the Year awards in 1999, as well as being named the UofA Male Rookie of the Year. Cardinal's 364 kills as a rookie were the most on the Bears, as he led the team to a '99 CW banner, the program's 6th overall, and a CIS bronze medal.

Among his many individual accomplishments, his remarkable 1999/2000 season might stand at the top. As of 2021, Cardinal's 432 kills as a sophomore are still the most in a single season in Canada West history.

The Golden Bears competed at the CIS National Championship in four of Cardinal's five years, including winning the program's third national title in 2002.

Coming off an injury-shortened 2002 season, Cardinal finished his university career with a bang in 2002-2003. His 221 kills were the 2nd most in Canada West, as he was named the 2003 Canada West and CIS Men's Volleyball Player of the Year, as well as becoming just the 5th member from the Bears Volleyball program to earn the Wilson Challenge Trophy as the UofA Male Athlete of the Year.

To this day, Cardinal is still the Bears all-time leader in kills (1,338), points (1581.0), and attack attempts (2,814).

Following his varsity career, Cardinal also had a successful stint with the Canadian National Team from 2001-2009, highlighted by competing at the 2003 Pan Am Games, and the 2006 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship in Japan.

Cardinal also had a strong professional career, as he played in Switzerland, France, The Netherlands, Austria and Cyprus, having competed at the highest level of pro volleyball, Champions League, while in Austria.

He graduated from the Faculty of Science with a double major in biological sciences and chemistry in 2003, before earning his Masters degree in Science from the University of Manitoba in 2013. Cardinal has spent the majority of his working career with Gilead Science as an Associate Scientist, a Biopharmaceutical company in Edmonton dedicated to developing innovative medicines for life-threatening illnesses.

Additionally, Cardinal has spent time volunteering on the Golden Bears Volleyball Alumni Association executive group.

Pascal Cardinal is the 3rd Golden Bears Volleyball athlete inducted into the Sports Wall of Fame.

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