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Just a few weeks after writing her final exam at UBC Okanagan, Briana Beamish has capped her stellar five-year career with the Heat by earning a spot on the Canadian national senior A women’s volleyball team.
Beamish, an Earl Marriott Secondary School grad from Surrey, will join Kelowna’s Marisa Field (Kelowna Secondary School) on the national team that will compete in the FIVB World Grand Prix next month and the NORCECA Pan Am Cup June 30-July 11 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Field, also under the mentorship of head coach Steve Manuel, played for the Okanagan University College Lakers in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons before transferring to the University of B.C.
"We are thrilled about the good mix of veteran players and a lot of new talent coming up through the system," said national-team head coach Arnd (Lupo) Ludwig. "We’re excited to be back training at the centre in Winnipeg, and it’s with renewed enthusiasm that we will be preparing for the FIVB World Grand Prix next month."
Not only is Brianna's selection a landmark for the UBCO women's volleyball program, but the power hitter is a historic student athlete at UBC Okanagan. She was part of the first class of athletes to have completed their entire years of eligibility with the Heat in Canada West and CIS competition.
Her five-year Heat career ended on the court in March with her team establishing a series of institutional firsts, culminating in a CIS national bronze medal in Brandon.
The Heat women’s volleyball team was also the first CIS team to compete at a national championship, first to play in a Canada West championship game, first to host a Canada West championship and a first to win the Canada West regular season title outright, with a record 22-win season.
Individually Brianna had a tremendous season and was selected to the Canada West Conference all-star team in March.
Through her 98 regular season match career with the Heat, Beamish owns a career stat line of 847 kills, 102 total blocks, 75 service aces, and 980 points. Brianna’s second at UBC Okanagan in career kills and points, trailing only Kelowna’s Alex Basso (892 kills, 1015.5 points) from 2008 to 2012.
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