Local Community Advertising
(Header Image: UBCO)
This week in Richmond, BC at the Olympic Oval, three players from the UBC Okanagan women's volleyball team find themselves at the national team selection camp.
Michelle Jakszuk, Aidan Lea, and Ann Richards are among three dozen hopefuls at the camp looking to be among the 20 approximate athletes that will be selected to form the core group of the Senior National team.
With numerous national team players returning there will be few spots to be had. The top 14 will travel to competitions while the other athletes will remain in Richmond to train at the Oval in preparation for upcoming events.
Michelle Jakszuk, will graduate this June, and is the only of the three Heat players at the camp not returning to the UBCO lineup this fall.
"It's amazing," exclaims Jakszuk.
"I'm glad that I pursued this amazing opportunity to try out for the national team. It is a great feeling knowing that all the hard work I've put in these past five years is paying off, because it has given me the chance to compete with and against the best volleyball players in the country. It has always been my dream, and it is surreal to think that I'm actually here."
Michelle's last year was her best at UBCO as she took home a Canada West All-Star, led the team in kills and Co-winner of the UBC Okanagan Female Graduating Player of the Year award.
New to the Heat this year was Ann Richards, the UCF transfer student from Assiniboine, Sask. looks to make her mark on the national team.
"This is my second time trying out for the national team," explains Richards, "Two years ago I tried out when it was a different coaching staff and in Winnipeg, I was told I could stay and train for the summer but was unable because my preseason training in Florida began in June."
Now playing in BC with different dates to the volleyball season in Canada, Richards is looking forward to the tryout now that is closer to her university and fits better within a Canada West schedule.
"I am very excited, it is a great opportunity to be in the gym training with many talented women from across Canada."
Aidan Lea, like Richards, is returning to UBCO next fall. This past year with the Heat Lea, the 6'6" middle blocker from Kelowna, was named a U SPORTS All-Canadian and a Canada West All-Star.
Last summer Lea attended the same selection camp and earned a spot on the national Senior B Team and attended the at the 2017 Summer Universiade with Team Canada in Taipei, Taiwan.
That familiarity with the process from last summer has helped Lea to cope with the pressure of the camp.
"It's definitely a lot different attending this tryout with teammates, from the Heat as well as TC teammates from last year. It's nice knowing what to expect this year, and feeling comfortable in the facility after having trained here all last summer. For those reasons, I think my nerves are a little less, but that's not saying much," said Lea.
"The nature of all tryouts is just a high-stress, high-intensity atmosphere, and it's as emotionally draining as physically. Despite that, it's really exciting and really fun to be playing at such a high level again, and overall a really good experience."
If selected, the players will represent Canada and will be once again coached by Marcello Abbondanza, who along with his coaching staff, are looking to build upon the success of 2017.
Additionally, the Heat athletes attending the camp will also be identified and evaluated for the National Excellence Program (NEP). The NEP prepares athletes to perform at the highest level of our sport and to continue their development towards the National Senior Team Program and/or laying professional volleyball.
Local Community Advertising