CAPS Blog – March 9, 2009

By Gina Morphy  CareerCAP 2008

My rookie season as a York Lion has come to an end.  What a whirlwind journey it’s been and one heck of a first year!

At the beginning of the year, my coaches had met with each player asking us what our goals were as individuals and collectively as a team.  Each and every one of us had told them firmly; “take home the banner,” “ host final fours,” or “gold at provincials”.  From the get-go, we were in the same mind-frame and had the same burning desire to win our East division, and eventually the OUA.  

The chemistry between my teammates was what I believe made York unstoppable.  We were inseparable, having team dinners or going out together nearly every week.  What I am proud of is that our attitudes did not change once we stepped on the court.  It is crucial to connect with your teammates and coaches and I can safely say that our closeness was the first step to our successes.

After an adjusting pre-season tournament, my team went on to dominate the OUA.  18 consecutive regular season wins as well as two tournament golds led us to our final regular season match versus McMaster.  The crowd was rowdy, the opposing team was pumped and the pressure was on us for an undefeated season.  Unfortunately, we dropped the match 1-3, but held our heads high as we entered playoffs.

In the first round, in a nail-biting 5 sets, we took Queens for the win which would see us play Western in the semi-finals.  Having had the best record in the league, we were privileged to host the OUA Final Four tournament.   Our gym had a different kind of atmosphere that weekend.  Rogers cameras at every corner, more announcers than needed, big banners and hundreds of loud, obnoxious fans set the mood for what was to become an unbelievable championship.

Having to wait for the other semi-final match to end, my team began its pre-match routine; get all the giggles out, sing our song ‘Ain’t No Mountain High’ and begin to warm-up.  Their fans came ready to chirp and the girls started out swingin’.  Never dwelling on our errors, we stole the game from Western 3-1.  Ecstatic to be playing in the OUA final, we rested up and re-grouped for the following day.

The final match pitted us against the only team to exploit our weaknesses, McMaster.  There was no doubt in my mind that this would be an exciting final.  Our fans were unreal, decked out in red & white and loud, loud, loud!  The girls came out strong on both sides and we took the first set 25-20.  In the second, we were on FIRE!  Perfect passing led to smart sets which let our hitters rip balls.  We crushed the set 25-12 and their crowd was silent.  Feeding off the energy from the crowd, the bench and the court, we sailed to an early lead.  The crowd was on their feet as the score reached 24-14.  A hit just outside the line by a Mac player caused the crowd to rush the court.  Hugs and tears all ‘round as York captured its first OUA title in 12 years.  The feeling was unreal as we were presented our medals and banners and ran our victory lap.  I cried out in relief, “I don’t have to write my exams next week!” and everyone cheered.

With the dominating win, we attended CIS Nationals in Fredericton, NB the following week.  It was an incredible experience and we finished the tournament ranked 6th in the nation. 

York volleyball has come such a long way in such a short time and I am looking forward to another exciting 4 years with the Lions.  As lucky as I have been, my wildest dreams have come true in only my 1st year as a varsity athlete.  I only look forward to possibly even bigger accomplishments in my years to come.  I wish all of the girls best of luck as the season winds down.  I hope all of you have an unforgettable year!  Cherish these times.

— Gina Morphy (’08)

CAPS Blog – March 1, 2009

By Gabrielle Vallée-Vachon  CareerCAP 2008

My first season with Les Carabins was absolutely unreal.  I’ve had the chance to train and play with some of the best players in Canada and the chance to be coached by the CIS Coach of The Year, Olivier Trudel, and I can’t believe how much I’ve learned in only 6 months.  It was a hard, intense and very emotional season for us but, most of all, it was simply a wonderful one.  From Day One, we had our goal and our dream set for the season: to win the CIS National Championship, and the first step to that goal was to win the Quebec provincials.  All year we trained hard with that goal in mind and pushed ourselves to the max.  This team had something special, I honestly can’t explain what it was, but the connection, the closeness, and the love we had for each other is just inexplicable.  We are more than just teammates, we are family and that is powerful.

Not only did we have such a great spirit, we were pretty decent at playing the game too.  We did really well in all of the tournaments we played, winning the McGill Invitational, the Barbados Invitational and l’Invitation des Carabins.  As for our season, we finished with the best record in our program’s history, winning 20 games and losing only our final game of the season.  With that record, in January, we had already won the Quebec league so we were assured a showing in the provincial finals and a showing at the CIS Championship in Fredericton.  It was then time for the finals and we were facing Laval Rouge et Or, the only team to beat us in regular season.  In the finals, we wanted to show Laval that the game we lost was clearly just a mistake.  We took the first match 3-0 and the second 3-1 and that made us provincial champs!!

Now we could focus on our main goal – to be national champions. After 13 weeks leading the national rankings, a 20-1 record and a provincial championship behind us, we were seeded no. 1 for CIS Championships.  We knew that seeding and ranking meant nothing and it was up to us to prove what we were made of.  Our first game was against the hosts, UNB.  We came out strong and won 3-0.  So we were now officially in the Canadian Top 4. 

We knew that semis would be a big game as we were facing the University of Calgary Dinos.  After too many unforced errors, Calgary took the game 3-2 and we were devastated.  None of us expected that result and it was definitely the most painful loss I’ve ever had.  We had regrets because we didn’t leave it all on the court and we kept thinking “I should’ve done this and I shouldn’t have done that…” and knowing that we didn’t give our best is what hurts the most. 

We would now be playing Laval for the seventh time this year for bronze, and that was about to be a VERY hard game.  After losing the semis, our dream was shattered and nothing else seemed to matter at that time.  We did not want to be in this position and we had a lot of trouble accepting it.  But one thing was clear to all of us, if we weren’t leaving with gold, we would still be leaving with something.  After a hard-fought game and lots of emotions, we won 3-2 and would be leaving with the bronze.  So many tears of relief, frustration, joy, sadness and just general exhaustion followed that game.  It was the last time that the Carabins 08-09 edition would be playing together, it was the end of the career for some of our teammates, and it was sad.  Even though bronze is definitely not the medal we expected, it’s still a medal and something to be proud of.  We fought for it hard and we defiantly deserved it.  After all, 3rd in Canada is pretty impressive.

I can’t believe my rookie year is now over... it went by so fast!  I look forward to my next years with this amazing team.  I’m excited to face new challenges with them but, most of all, I’m just excited to see my team everyday – if not twice a day – and I’m just excited to make more great memories with them!

If I learned something this year it’s to always, always do your best and make sure that you perform so you don’t have regrets later because trust me, it hurts.

Best of luck to all of you CAPS girls for the rest of your season.  Enjoy these precious years because they go by so quickly.

— Gabrielle Vallée-Vachon (’08)

CAPS Blog – February 18, 2009

By Leah Hofmann CareerCAP 2008

CAPS Blog – December 15, 2008

By Jessica Wolfenden CareerCAP 2005

On November 21, 2008 I played my last career college volleyball game.  Nothing really prepares you for the feelings and reality of the end of a huge chapter in your life.  I have played volleyball since grade 6.  I have spent the majority of the time since then eating, breathing, and living volleyball.  That’s 11 years of my life that I have dedicated to the sport I love, and now its over.  I played my last game as a Black Bear, just like I played my last game as a CAP four years ago.  Except this time I don’t have another team I’m joining and I don’t have another few years where I can play competitive volleyball.  After that last point, I turned to look at the 5 other girls on the court with me – all seniors, all feeling the same things I was – and we immediately broke down. 

Walking out of the gym was the hardest thing to do.  I walked out of the gym as a proud, exhausted, sad, excited, adrenaline-filled senior setter of my team, and when I walked back into the gym, I was the senior who was done, who won’t be part of the team next year, who won’t get to experience this type of competition ever again.  I didn’t change after the game; I kept my jersey, shoes, socks, and ankle braces on.  I didn’t want to take them off, because I didn’t know when I would get a chance to put them all on again, and I knew this was my last time ever wearing it as a member of the University of Maine Black Bear Volleyball team.  I wanted to keep my jersey on forever!  I wanted to feel the nervous butterflies in my stomach before a huge championship game again – the feeling you get playing in front of hundreds of people.  Proudly wearing your university jersey is something you take for granted, until the last game.  I am starting to realize that I don’t get to put that jersey on again, that I won’t be playing in front of hundreds of people anymore, and that my team will keep on playing and competing, only without me. 

It hasn’t fully hit me yet, but come August when I am normally packing up and heading back to Maine for another preseason, I will probably be sad and jealous of the girls that get to go back and be part of it again.  I will always check to see how Maine is doing and how my girls are doing, just like I check up on the CAPS.  I wish I had more years to play, I wish I could just keep playing until my body wouldn’t let me anymore, but for some reason there is a limit of only 4 years in the States!  That is totally not enough for me!  I have more years in me, more things I want to learn and more games I want to play; but it’s time for me to move on and start something new.  As I close this chapter in my life, I am opening many others.

Volleyball is all I have known for most of my life, and much of my time has been spent doing volleyball things.  But now that it is over, I do have an unbelievable amount of free time on my hands.  I have so much more time to do homework, to sleep, to take naps, to shop, to even have a social life!  I finished all my schoolwork 2 weeks early, which never would have happened if I were still playing!  I have time to go hang out with friends and know what a weekend without traveling hundreds of miles is like.  So there are some bonuses, no more early 6am lifting, no more sprinting and heavy weight lifting.  It is fun and exciting to learn how to live my life without all the things that came along with playing volleyball.  So, while it is hard to let go of my career as a volleyball player, I know there are new things out there waiting for me.

Everyone always told me cherish your club volleyball years because they go by so fast.  And then people told me to cherish my university years because they go by faster.  They were all very true, but I’ve learned that there is something more important to cherish.  Cherish volleyball.  Just plain volleyball, no matter whom you play with, where you play or how you play, you just need to cherish the game.  There are so many opportunities after club that await every one of the Baby CAPS, and their volleyball chapters are just beginning, not ending.  Now that I have used up every year of eligibility (and even looked into sneaking my fifth year in Canada), I’ve realized my chapter is over.  I’ll always play volleyball, whenever I can, wherever I can, so don’t be surprised if I show up at Pius one day all suited up ready to play.  And don’t make fun of me because I’m old and retired and probably very rusty. 

Volleyball is fun, even after all the long hours, hard work, sweat and tears, it really is fun, and that is why I still play and why I will always play Volleyball.

— Jessica Wolfenden (’05)

CAPS Blog – November 4, 2008

By Sofia Sturova CareerCAP 2008

As mentioned on the website, I decided to go to the University of Ottawa for Commerce and was recruited to the uOttawa Gee-Gees volleyball team.  Assuming that most CAPS are considering uOttawa as the “stay-at-home” option, I'll give you all a quick summary of university life – the balance of education, physical activity and socialization.

Unlike the sciences, Commerce turned out to be a very slow-paced program (at least my first semester has been).  All of my teachers in high school drilled me on how I needed to be prepared for the infinite amounts of sleepless nights during university, and how I will no longer see sunlight since I will be practically living in the library.  Lies.  In Commerce, readings are optional (although suggested), homework is optional (also suggested), and for all of my courses (except one), assignments are non-existent.  Yes, of course there are the dreaded midterms, but, with good time management (4-6 hours of quality studying time), good lecture notes (which are found online), and decent class attendance, midterms are a breeze.  The only issue I've had so far is marks.  As an over 90% average student in high school, receiving 70s on midterms was a slight shock, but I have to admit, I did very little in high school to get my 90s.  With those habits – 70s is all you can get in university.  My only advice (school-wise) for all those students with the easy 90s, is to either start changing those habits, or accept 70s!

Our squad of 15 players spends a regular three tough hours in the gym everyday, with the exception of Mondays.  But Monday isn't a day off either.  It is none other than “Agility Morning”.  An early 6:45am practice not only gets you out of bed at 5:00, but also gets your body and mind in gear for the practices and games to come throughout the week.  At this point you can use your imagination and create the hardest combination of sprinting, jumping, pushups and planks possible.  Now add pylons and ladders, speed it up by about five times (since that's how fast the 4th years are zooming past you), and you've got the typical agility workout.  If you are in need of walls to support your body weight after practice – congratulations!  You are a true Gee-Gee.

As for practices, it is all about intensity and speed.  Be prepared to work hard and use all the muscle gained at agility the previous morning.  By the end of practice it is mandatory that your shirt is soaked with sweat, otherwise, there is no way you worked hard enough.  There's a ton of individual work done with you, and that gives you all the more opportunity to step up your game even more.  I love it.

There's also the usual individual workout at the gym.  Start off at once per week, and as you get more adjusted to university, it will increase to twice a week.  Hint: go with a first year that has the same workout as you.  Some of the exercises you have to do might be a little awkward, with a sardine-packed gym of boys watching you (when they aren't too busy looking at themselves).

Lastly – but definitely not the least important aspect of your physical activity life – is nutrition.  Pretty simple – eat healthy!  Vitamin supplements, fish oil and whey protein were a few things I was newly introduced to this year.  Sounded kind of gross at first, I'm not going to lie, but with the amount of energy you spend during the week, your body will love you for replenishing its levels.  Also – steak for breakfast – the most important meal of your day has to be filling.

Now the most important part: socialization.  There is absolutely no way I could get through all of this without a bundle of funny, dancing, singing girls surrounding me.  All of a sudden, agility morning isn't so bad when you walk into a gym full of happy people breakin' it down to the latest beats.  In practice you want to work even harder, knowing there are at least 14 other girls sweating just as hard as you. 

There's also socialization outside of volleyball practice time.  Rookie Night... experience it.  Something you'll never forget (or never remember).  It is very good bonding time, that's all I can say.  You have plenty of time to go clubbing (as long as it is done responsibly).  You will see enough of your friends to never get tired of them.  One and only one socialization issue with me: family time.  You would think that living at home you would see lots of them, but no.  Home is where you end up making food to take to school with you, and sleeping.  Even homework is done at school.  So make sure to dedicate time to your family, because it won't just come up on its own.

As of November 4th, 2008, this is all I have to say about university life.  Overall conclusion?  It really is the best, hardest, most rewarding thing that will ever happen to you, so enjoy it!  Good luck to all of you hard-working girls on the CAPS teams, and a huge thank-you to all those hard-working parents, coaches and volunteers!

With love,

— Sofia Sturova (Gee-Gees #5)

CAPS Blog – October 15, 2008

By Melissa McCoy CareerCAP 2008

Hi.  My name is Melissa McCoy and I was fortunate enough to play my final club season with the CAPS last year. 

I am now at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, where I’ve started off a new chapter in my life!  My first month of University was much different from that of a normal first year student.  Instead of first year frosh week, I had a whole month of crazy physical training, room and dress inspections, having people yell at me constantly and simply learning how to be in the military! At the end of this month I was put to the test during a 3½ hour obstacle course that tested how well my group of peers could work as a team and how well we could keep up.

This all might sound crazy, but it was so worth it.  I am now a much stronger and determined person!

I am playing volleyball for the RMC Paladins this year.  Our record is 5 for 6, so far this season.  Our most recent matches were played down in North Carolina against the United States Marine Corps women’s team, Thanksgiving weekend.  I have been fortunate enough to start in every game so far and hope that I will continue to do so.  Our team practices 5 days a week, with weight training 3 times per week. My schedule is pretty crazy, but I’m managing to keep up!

I wish everyone the best of luck in their upcoming season. Hopefully some of you will play in Kingston this year, I’ll be checking the schedule because I would love to come and watch!  To the 18U ladies, have fun with the girls you love this year because you’ll sure miss them next year!

Thanks for the memories!

— Melissa McCoy (08)

CAPS Blog – September 29, 2008

By Gina Morphy CareerCAP 2008

Hey there CAPS girlies.

My name’s Gina Morphy and I was privileged to be a part of this wonderful club for three years. I am now in my first year at York University in Toronto and have just finished my first month as a rookie on the women’s volleyball team. I have loved every minute of the big city life so far and hope it only gets better from here. The workload is tough but if you know how to manage your time, you’ll be well off.

I’ve been practicing every night and lifting three times a week for the past month. It sure takes a toll on your body after the first week but then you just get used to it.

We just had our first tournament in Montreal this past weekend where we played some of the best teams in Ontario and Quebec. I got to see and even play against some fellow CareerCAPS which is always a pleasure. I’ve learned that university ball is alot different from club or high school. It’s much more competitive and some girls are just plain HUGE. In your first year, you do a lot of sitting back and watching. I’m thankful to have amazing coaches and a great setter to learn from. No matter how good you think you are, there is always a way to get even better.

In my debut game, I was so full of adrenaline that I completely forgot about my nerves. I stepped out onto the court without hesitation and ended up pulling off a massive block against a CIS MVP! To say the least, I was pretty ecstatic. Whoever said that short people can’t block are seriously mistaken.

I look forward to the long season ahead and hope my body can hold itself together. I can feel myself becoming stronger already and can’t wait to see where it goes from here.

Best of luck to each and every one of you in your seasons to come. Make the best of it because club years are unforgettable. I’ll be reading up on the website for sure and I’ll keep in touch.

I <3 CAPS

— Gina Morphy (08)

CAPS Blog – September 25, 2008

By Kalyn Mostert CareerCAP 2008

Hey there to all you CAPS girls!

My name is Kalyn Mostert and I played for the CAPS for the past 3 years.  It's hard to believe that I'm already in my first year of university at the University at Albany, in New York.  All you girls are so lucky to be able to be a part of one of the best volleyball clubs in Ottawa.  I remember thinking that I wanted to stay in club forever... that was at least until I got to university. 

I started out my journey with a five and a half hour drive to Albany to attend the camp here before heading full gear into preseason.  I was a little nervous at first but, once I saw the team, those nerves went away immediately.  After the 4 day camp we had 5 days off to relax before preseason started so a bunch of the girls decided it'd be fun to start off our season with a fun trip to Six Flags theme park, where we spent the day going on awesome rollercoaster rides!

Before we knew it, we were right smack in the middle of our preseason with two weeks of two practices a day (“2-a-days”).  It was a tough couple of weeks with a couple of neck deep trips to the ice bath after practice, but we made it through all right.

Our conference games are finally starting up next weekend.  We haven't been without play though.  So far we've travelled to California, Kentucky, and Michigan for various tournaments.  This upcoming weekend is our second home tournament of the year and were are very excited.

All I can say to you girls is... enjoy your club years while you can because time flies when you're having fun, and I know I had a blast in club.  I'm hoping to have just as much fun at university... and so far it's looking good.

Talk to you later,

— Kalyn Mostert (08)

By Heather Potts CareerCAP 2005

Hey CAPS girls!

It’s hard to believe that the CAPS are celebrating their 5th Anniversary!  I’m sure all you ‘Baby CAPS’ are extremely pumped for another exciting season!

Looking back, I am so glad that I had the amazing opportunity to play my one (and only) club year with the National Capitals.  Not only did I meet an amazing group of girls and volleyball players, but learned so much from the ‘Original Six’ every single practice!  That one season with Cathy and Matt as my coaches physically and mentally prepared me to tryout for an OUA team – the Brock University Badgers. 

I spent my first Badgers season as a regular ‘rookie’ would – doing all the duties, watching and learning from the ‘vets’, and waiting to prove myself any chance I could.  I had a great pair of middles – both OUA All-Stars – to learn from, so I was ready to pick up my play when second year rolled around.

But, as luck would have it, after two months of pre-season training, I went over on my ankle right before the home-opener, broke it and tore quite a few ligaments.  So, although I still was very much part of the team (coming to practice and travelling with the team) I missed out on the best part of varsity volleyball – playing!  I spent at least three hours a day at the gym, biking (with my cast on – I got some funny looks!!), and at therapy, doing everything I possibly could to speed up my recovery.  I healed in almost no time – only about two months.  I was back for the last part of the year, playing in the last part of the OUA season and then in the 21U club tournaments.

As I enter my third year, our team is mid-training for a very promising season.  We earned some strong recruits (including fellow middle and CareerCAP Leah Hofmann) and our vets have high expectations.  With our first tournament just around the corner, we are training hard everyday, and (as Jess said) plunging into the ice bath afterwards.  A week ago I came down on the base of the net pole and rolled my ankle – sat out of practice for a week, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as before, and came back a couple of days ago.  I am doing everything I can to avoid any other ankle injury – I have about an inch thick tape ‘cast’ around both feet, which are then covered by ankle braces!

So CAPS, I know you are just as excited to do well as I am this season, and here’s a bit of advice: if you dream of playing any sort of volleyball after club volleyball, play hard, but practice harder.  Be proud that you are part of the CAPS club; it is an amazing club where you can become a phenomenal player!  Just think - if I could make a varsity team after only one season, how far could you all go?!  Enjoy every minute of it, you were chosen for the team for a reason, so earn your spot and win us some medals!!

Leah and I will be checking the website and following all of the teams’ successes – we know you’ll make us proud!

6-1-3 ... NC!

— Heather Potts (05)

By Jessica Wolfenden CareerCAP 2005

Hey CAPS!!

I hope everyone is gearing up for another great year with the CAPS! As you guys get ready for another long, fun season with all your friends, I am just beginning my last year here at the University of Maine. Its hard to believe that its been almost 4 years since I left all my girls at CAPS, and now I only have one short season left with all my new friends here at Maine.

I just finished my first week of preseason, which is always a tough week. Lots of physical testing, tough practices and extremely long days! There was a period of a few days where every muscle in my body hurt, so I plunged neck deep into the 58°F ice bath. It was SO cold, but SO worth it the next day because I was feeling a lot better and ready to continue with our two-a-day practices. As tough as preseason can be, I really don’t want it to be my last one, I would keep coming back year after year if I could! I have had such a great time here at Maine, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience at University.

In about a week we will travel to North Carolina for our first game of the year. As excited as I am to get playing and start our season in my senior year, I am also scared, nervous and sad for it to end. So for right now I try not to think about the end, I am just trying to work hard every practice in the gym and really savour every day and every game.

I have another long day tomorrow with an early setters practice at 8:15, followed by real practice at 9am with everyone else. After practice we go right to the gym for a weight lifting session, then it’s off to lunch, which is good because by then I'm starving! After lunch we have a team meeting followed by a team building session. Then we have another afternoon practice for a couple hours and then dinner. After that long day we are usually pretty tired, so the only thing we do is head straight for the couch to watch the Olympics! And... guess what... I get to do it all over again in the morning!! Gotta love this sport eh!

So CAPS, I hope all you guys are getting ready for tryouts and getting ready to work your butt off this year! If I could give you one piece of advice that I have learned here at this next level in volleyball, is that there is always someone else out there working just a little bit harder than you. Don’t let anyone outwork you on or off the court! Earn your spot on the court, and prove to your teammates and coaches that you deserve to be out there.

I am always checking the CAPS website to see how all our teams are doing so make this alumna proud!

— Jessica Wolfenden

By Liz Wilson Member, 2004-2005 CAPS

Hi CAPS! My name is Liz Wilson (#10). Not sure if I'm considered a true CAPS Alumni since I never “graduated” from the club and only played one season, but if you want to hear a story from the path less traveled, here’s mine...

After playing my first and only season with the CAPS in the club’s inaugural year (their championship season) I had a lot of thinking to do. I learned so much about myself as a player, an athlete, and a person with that team, and it was one of the best experiences in my athletic career to-date. At every practice limits were pushed, potential was recognized and skills were bettered.

Here was the tricky part: I was going into my final year of high school, which meant alot of decisions would have to quickly be made about where I was to go and what sport I was to play. After turning it over in my head for the whole summer and winning the National Rugby Championship with Team Ontario, I had finally come to a decision. I realized that I could go much farther playing rugby than I could with volleyball and I had a lot of encouragement from elite level coaches to pursue my new goal.

I devoted my last year of high school to training for rugby at the Athletic Conditioning Center in Ottawa and began tryouts and training with the Provincial Team again that spring. I was also recruited to the University of Western Ontario Mustangs, with one of the most outstanding rugby programs in the country. I went on to having a great season with the Provincial Team that summer and was invited to tryout with the Canada U19 National Team that fall.

Since then, I have been named a CIS tournament All-star, named to National Team twice (U19, U20), and played in a history-making tournament this summer – the first ever Women's U20 Nations Cup. Now going into my third season as a Mustang, I look to make my mark on the pitch once again in an effort to win Gold at the CIS National Championships.

As much as I truly miss volleyball and all the great memories I shared with the girls during my first and last CAPS season, I couldn't be happier with the decision I made. I have had the opportunity to sing my heart out to our National Anthem at international venues while wearing the Red and White with the Maple Leaf on my chest. I believe my year with the 04-05 CAPS made me a stronger athlete mentally and is partly responsible for allowing me to get where I am today. If I had any advice for anyone, it would be:

– Go with your gut
– Keep your head above the water (even if those legs are beating like crazy underneath it) and
– Soak up every minute of the opportunities you have to play with the teams you're on.
I can still look back on all the roadies with the CAPS that first year and laugh
about all the stories we shared.

Good luck to this year's CAPS and, to the girls who have moved on, good luck in your university and college seasons.

Take care,

— Liz Wilson

(PHOTOS)

By Erin O’Doherty CareerCAP 2007

Hey all! It's been one action-packed year since I played club ball with the CAPS girls (of course, we all still keep in touch).

My first year at the University of Toronto was full of ups and downs, as well as cool new experiences. It was great to break away from Ottawa and meet new people. I discovered how amazing the City of Toronto is and the differences between the downtown lifestyle compared to back home. Even though I continued my volleyball career playing for the Varsity Blues at U of T, I wasn't sure if it was the perfect fit for me. At the end of May I made the decision to move on and look at other schools around the country.

Since volleyball is very important to me, I chose to research the top 3 colleges in Canada (that way I wouldn't have to sit out a year). I contacted the coaches from Mount Royal College in Calgary, UBCO in Okanogan, and Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo. After weeks of numerous phone calls and emails, I decided to make the trip out to BC and visit the 2008 CCAA National Champions (VIU) on Vancouver Island. I was out west for a week visiting with my friend Kat from U of T. The trip to the Island was beautiful... I was even able to practice with some of the girls.

At the end of June, I decided to accept their offer of admission and a position on the Mariners volleyball team at VIU. Only a few days ago I signed a lease for a beautiful new house with 3 other girls in Nanaimo, only 5 minutes from campus. I am so excited to have been given the opportunity to move out west and I can't wait until September!

Thanks for reading!

— Erin O’Doherty (’07)

Author: Tess Edwards, CareerCAP 2005