Winners of the 1977 CIAU women's volleyball title and after an undefeated season in 77/78, were again national university champions in '78. In '78, this team also won the national senior open championship. Seven of this team's players were selected as Canada West first-team All-Stars.
Christine Trainor, Jayne Cryer, Karen Johnson, Dorothy Schwaiger, Kerry Hutchinson, Diane Tyssedal, Janet Livingston, Susie Oliver, Sari Fleming, Joanne Fenton, Kim Brand, Melanie Fox, Maryanne Branson, Shelley Hopkins, Dianne Murray (coach), George Neufeld (assistant coach). Amanjit Dhillon (manager).
This team was one of the most successful volleyball teams in UBC history. Early in the season it played an exhibition game against the Canadian National team and won. It was undefeated in team play during its regular CWUAA season advancing to the CIAU championships in Moncton, New Brunswick, where it won the gold medal. Despite coach Dianne Murray's back ailments, the team furthered its season winning the BC Volleyball Association Senior AA championship. The domination continued and climaxed in Regina where UBC won gold at the Canadian Volleyball Association senior championship. History was made since it was the first women's Canadian volleyball championship won by a university team. This UBC team was truly the best in Canada.
The UBC Thunderettes of 1978 were one of three finalists in the Sport BC Team of the Year category. They received a civic award from the City of Vancouver and were honoured at a UBC luncheon, hosted by UBC President, Douglas Kenny.
This remarkable group played as a unit, so much so that it is difficult to choose key players even though many were named to various All-Star teams. The team consisted of Kim Brand, Maryanne Branson, Jayne Cryer, Sari Fleming, Melanie Fox, Shelley Hopkins, Kerry Hutchinson, Janet Livingston, Susie Oliver, Dorothy Schwaiger, Christine Trainor and Diane Tyssedal. The Head Coach was Dianne Murray, Assistant Coach was George Neufeld and Manager was Amanjit Dhillon. The entire team always represented UBC proudly.
This team, both Canadian Open Senior champions and Canadian University champions for 1977/78, was also Canadian CIA U champions the previous year with virtually the same personnel- only one different player. To indicate the strength of personnel on this team, seven of its members achieved Canada West first team All-Star status during their university careers. Two of those seven, Janet Livingston and Dorothy Schwaiger, made the All-Star team at the 1977/78 CIAU championship tournament and both were announced as co-winners of the 1978 Marilyn Pomfret Award as UBC's outstanding female athletes of the year.
According to Pomfret, who was UBC's Women's Athletic Director at the time, this team was especially determined and united. In fact this team to this day often gets together. This unity, states Pomfret, was a very important ingredient in winning the CIAU championship twice in a row - a very difficult feat.
Researched and written by Amanjit Payer and Fred Hume, UBC Athletics Historian
