Women’s Volleyball start season off with a bang

Keith Raynes gives an update the exciting developments in UNBSJ athletics

The Seawolves Women’s Volleyball Team has had a great start to their season posting a 9-0 record and 1st place in the A.C.A.A. By having such a strong first term the Seawolves, for the first time in their history, was ranked in the top 10 in the C.C.A.A. National Rankings.

They finished off the first term by playing in the Volleyball New Brunswick Senior Open held in Moncton with 60 teams participating and the Lady Seawolves went all the way to the championship final. This was a tremendous showing for the team, program and our University, as it showed the rest of the province on the quality of our players and team that we have here in Saint John.

Returning players on the team are 4th year power hitter and captain, Katie McKeown [ Plaster Rock N.B.], 3rd year middle Nadine Savoie [ Ste.-Anne-de-Kent N.B.], 4th year Libero “Sunny” Hamilton [ Miramichi, N.B.], 2nd year power hitter and C..C.A.A. Academic All- Canadian Kelcie Levesque [ Fredericton N.B.], 2nd year offside Jasmine Lavoie [ Moncton N.B.] 2nd year Middle Dax Hooper [ Hampton N.B.] and 3rd year offside Patricia Lake [ Pasadena, NFLD.]

The Seawolves have some outstanding new recruits that have joined the Program this year starting with  Libero Megan Fitzpatrick [ Shediac N.B.], setter Megan Smith [ Calgary Alberta] and power hitter Veronique Bastarache [ Ste.-Marie-de-Kent N.B.].

Megan Fitzpatrick this past summer won the Gold Medal at the Atlantic Beach Championships in the 18 and under Division at Parlee Beach in August and Megan Smith took her highschool volleyball team [ Rundle College] all the way to the highschool Provincial Final, both outstanding accomplishments.

In early December the Seawolves had a visit from Monica Hitchcock, who was a former captain of our Women’s Olympic Volleyball Team, who brought with her the Olympic Torch that she had the honour to run with this year. It was a great thrill for all the players and coaches to see and hold the torch and have a few pictures taken with it and Monica.

The Seawolves are back on home court January 23-24th as the play in the ”Seawolves Invitational Volleyball Tournament” and then take on Holland College Hurricanes in league action saturday Jan.30th at 1:00p.m. in the Athletic Centre.

In other Varsity news the Men’s Volleyball Team and defending A.C.A.A. Champions have a record of 5-0,  will be  in the Seawolves Invitational Tournament as well and play Holland College on Jan. 30th at 3:00p.m.

In Basketball news the Mens and Womens team have both been training very hard over the holidays and are very excited to get back on the court.  Both teams have a strong core of returning players and a great crop of rookies who are excited to challenge the other teams in the very tough A.C.A.A. Both teams will be on the road in January before returning back home and taking on the Hurricanes of Holland College Jan. 30th with the Women’s game at 5:00p.m and the Men’s showdown at 7:00p.m.

All the teams would very much appreciate your support when they return home and  battle for a play-off spot. Hope to see you there…….GO SEAWOLVES!!!!

Keith Raynes is the coach of the UNBSJ women’s volleyball team.