SaskVolleyball have selected a couple of provincial teams for the National Team Cup Challenge, which will be held in Richmond, B.C., from July 19-23. Kianna Cuthbert and Jacey Rowland will compete with a SaskVolleyball provincial team. Olivia Michel was selected as a ‘red-shirt’ athlete for the provincial team and Emma Bitz, Jorgia Johner and Chandler Dickie all received callbacks from SaskVolleyball.
Kianna Cuthbert will compete with the Under-16 SaskVolleyball provincial team. Cuthbert started playing the game at an early age. “My mom coached when I was younger, so I would go to all of her practices.”
“I enjoy getting to play with my teammates and learning new leadership skills while I am on the court,” said Cuthbert. “I also enjoy getting to learn how to work as a team.”
Normally Cuthbert plays in the middle of the court, but she has been asked to play on the left side for the SaskVolleyball provincial team. Cuthbert feels that she has had many opportunities since playing with the Weyburn Volleyball Club. “We recently hosted a tournament in town, so it was really good to get that community support.”
“We also get to travel to Saskatoon and Regina a lot for tournaments.” In the past, when the team has competed at nationals it had also given the athletes experience of playing against other top teams from other provinces.
Cuthbert is very excited to be representing the province at the upcoming national tournament. “I am excited to have new coaches and the opportunity to learn from them. I will also be able to get to know all the other players on the team and make new friends.”
Jacey Rowland will compete with the Under-16 SaskVolleyball provincial team. She has been playing volleyball for four-and-a-half years. “I like the girls that I play with, we know each other very well on and off the court.”
Rowland has been playing middle of the court during her volleyball career and appreciated the opportunities provided to her by the Weyburn Volleyball Club. “They have a lot of coaches who do their best to advance us to the next level. The coaches are really close to each other, and have formed close bonds with their team members.”
It is very exciting for Rowland to be representing the province at the national tournament. “I am very excited to be playing under the guidance of new coaches, and meeting all the new players of the provincial team. It will be great to see the competition at the national level and see what these other teams will bring to the table.”
Olivia Michel was selected as a red-shirt for the Under-16 SaskVolleyball provincial team, which means she will get to practice with the team. She started playing volleyball in Grade 6. “I enjoy getting to know my teammates and the strong bond that is created by the end of the year, especially when you have a great team.”
Michel typically plays at centre when she is on the court. She is looking forward to train alongside the other SaskVolleyball athletes as they prepare for nationals.
“It is a great opportunity. I get the chance to play beside other great players and learn a lot from some great coaches,” said Michel.
Emma Bitz received a callback from the Under-16 SaskVolleyball team. Bitz has played volleyball since she was in Grade 6. “I like making new friends on the team and challenging myself to be my best,” said Bitz.
Bitz can usually be found in the middle of the court, since she likes to hit from a variety of spots during a volleyball game. She has enjoyed playing with the Weyburn Volleyball Club, since it brings together students from both the Weyburn Comp and St. Michael School. “It is just really fun to meet new friends when you are traveling.”
She felt honoured to be given a callback. “This places me among the top 30 female athletes in my age group in the province, so that is pretty exciting.”
Jorgia Johner also received a callback from the Under-16 SaskVolleyball team. She has played volleyball since she was in Grade 6. “I love all the different coaches that I get to learn from and grow as a person.”
Johner is usually found on the left side of the court. She has had both the opportunity to play with the Weyburn Volleyball Club and the Briercrest volleyball team. “I was able to play with my sister at Briercrest during her last year at the school, before she left for university. I have met a lot of new people who I am still friends with.”
She feels that since SaskVolleyball called her back, that it would give her the opportunity to expand her skills. “This will give me another chance to improve my skills for next year, and I will be trying out again.”
Chandler Dickie received a callback from the Under-15 SaskVolleyball team. She has played volleyball since she was in Grade 5. “My team has really become sort of a family, especially since we have all played together for a couple of years. We are really close.”
In the past few years, Dickie has played on the left side of the court, but she is gaining the skills necessary to grow into a libero position, which is a more defensive position. Dickie felt honoured to be called back and considered one of the top under-16 players in the province. She hopes to continue to work as she has aspirations to be called back again next year to try out and make the team next year.
“It is cool to know that from all the players in Saskatchewan, they considered me to be one of the best,” said Dickie.
Maggie Grams also received a callback from the Under-15 SaskVolleyball team. She has played volleyball since she was in Grade 4. “I enjoy the fact that volleyball is a team sport, so you get to celebrate with your whole team when you score a point.”
Grams typically plays at the back of the court. One of the advantages of playing with the Weyburn Volleyball Club is that they have a great support system. “The other girls on the team are so enthusiastic and supportive, no matter if you make a mistake or if you make a point.”
As a callback, Grams knows that she will have the opportunity to improve her skills. “It was really exciting to be considered as one of the top girls who tried out for SaskVolleyball. I am glad that I had the opportunity to play with higher-level athletes.”
