UBC Sports Hall of Fame
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The 1970s could be considered UBC’s first “era of women’s volleyball champions”, a proud time for a campus sport that began in 1955. From the many top UBC players during this decade, Betty Baxter proved to be one of the most celebrated. While at UBC, this native of Alberta led the Blue and Gold to two national University championships, 1972/73 and 73/74, and did this in impressive fashion. “She could really nail the ball, that one,” states former University opponent Kim Gordon. “She was quite intimidating, definitely the strongest on the UBC team.” The press reported at the ‘74 Canadian Championship final, “Betty Baxter proved too much for the Western Ontario Mustangs, stealing the show with devastating spikes that allowed UBC to romp through the final game”.
The two consecutive CIAU (U Sports) championships won by UBC, the latter climaxing a completely undefeated season, were captained on both occasions by Baxter who provided strong offense and key blocks for her teammates and her coach Marilyn Pomfret. Baxter also had an impressive international record. When she started at UBC in ‘72 she was already a member of Canada’s national volleyball team playing and touring with this select group for the remainder of the decade. She was also a member of Canada's Student Games team that competed in Moscow in ‘73, just after Betty’s championship UBC season.
With Canada’s national team, she was the only player from UBC on the 73/74 team, a contingent that this season rose to the eleventh best in the world. Among this team’s accomplishments was an exciting three games to one victory over China in a series played at War Memorial Gym, June 1974. The next season she was named captain of Canada’s team helping take it to a three-to-one victory over the US at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver.
“It was her jumping and power hitting plus her aggressiveness that were her strengths” offers former National team teammate and UBC coach Dianne Murray. Baxter’s playing career was highlighted in 1976 as she played on Canada’s volleyball team competing at the Montreal Olympics.
Baxter graduated from UBC’s Faculty of Physical Education in 1975 after playing two memorable years of volleyball at UBC. Since that time, she has coached volleyball at the National and International levels, has served as a school trustee and entered politics as a Federal election candidate. Meanwhile, she has been involved in civic leadership focusing on ethics advocating equality of gender and sexual orientation.
Fred Hume, UBC Athletics
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