OTTAWA (CIS) – Canadian Interuniversity Sport, in conjunction with Volleyball Canada, announced Monday the student-athletes and staff members who will represent Canada in women's volleyball at the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia.
Summer Universiade website: www.kazan2013.com/en
Team Canada website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/universiade/summer/2013
The roster is comprised of eight standouts from CIS, three from the NCAA and one from the CCAA.
Highlighting the lineup is a formidable trio of outside hitters from the reigning six-time CIS champion University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, including Shanice Marcelle of Victoria, Lisa Barclay of Brandon, Man., and Kyla Richey of Roberts Creek, B.C.
Marcelle wrapped up her sensational career with the Thunderbirds this past season with a second selection as CIS player of the year in women's volleyball, and went on to claim the prestigious BLG Award presented to the top CIS female athlete across all sports. She was also named a national championship all-star for the fifth time in as many campaigns, a remarkable streak that includes a tournament MVP nod in 2011.
Barclay just completed her third season with UBC and was voted MVP of the CIS championship for the second straight year. Richey played her fifth and final campaign with the T-Birds in 2011-12, when she was named CIS player of the year, is also a former national championship MVP (2009).
Rounding out the squad heading to Kazan are outside hitters Dana Cranston from Colorado State, Tabi Love from UCLA and Marie-Sophie Nadeau from Montreal, middles Lucy Charuk from Houston, Kelly Nyhof from Humber College and Alicia Perrin from Trinity Western, setters Megan Cyr from North Carolina State and Kelci French from Trinity Western, as well as libero Tesca Andrew-Wasylik from the University of Winnipeg.
Marcelle, Barclay, Nadeau and Perrin all return from the team that competed at the last FISU Games in 2011 in Shenzhen, China, while Richey wore the Maple Leaf at the 2009 tournament in Belgrade, Serbia.
Arnd Ludwig, head coach of the Canadian senior national team since January of 2009, will be at the helm of the student contingent in Kazan.
The personnel also includes assistant coach Olivier Trudel from the University of Montreal, team leader Gina Schmidt from Simon Fraser, as well as therapist Ashley Beausoleil and statistician Adam Schulz.
Canada is coming off an 11th-place finish – out of 15 countries – in 2011 in Shenzhen and is looking to advance to the quarter-final round for the first time since 2001 (8th place). In 18 previous appearances at the Universiade tourney, Canada's best result is a pair of fourth positions in 1997 in Sicily and 1983 in Edmonton.
In Russia, the Canadians will compete in the preliminary round in Pool B against Norway (July 8), Algeria (July 9) and the reigning champions from Brazil (July 10). The gold-medal final of the 16-team competition is scheduled for July 15.
Norway finished in last place in 2011, while Algeria did not qualify for the event.
TEAM CANADA ROSTER
Position Name School Hometown
Libero Tesca Andrew-Wasylik Winnipeg Unionville, Ont.
Outside Hitter Lisa Barclay UBC Brandon, Man.
Middle Lucy Charuk Houston Tsawwassen, B.C.
Outside Hitter Dana Cranston Colorado State Fort St. John, B.C.
Setter Megan Cyr North Carolina State St. Andrews, Man.
Setter Kelci French Trinity Western Okotoks, Alta.
Outside Hitter Tabi Love UCLA Dauphin, Man.
Outside Hitter Shanice Marcelle UBC Victoria, B.C.
Outside Hitter Marie-Sophie Nadeau Montreal Saint-Aimé, Que.
Middle Kelly Nyhof Humber College Georgetown, Ont.
Middle Alicia Perrin Trinity Western Creston, B.C.
Outside Hitter Kyla Richey UBC Roberts Creek, B.C.
STAFF
Position Name Affiliation Hometown
Head Coach Arnd Ludwig Volleyball Canada Ulm, Germany
Assistant Coach Olivier Trudel Montreal Montreal, Que.
Team Leader Gina Schmidt Simon Fraser Beaverlodge, Alta.
Therapist Ashley Beausoleil Volleyball Canada Winnipeg, Man.
Statistician Adam Schulz Volleyball Canada Kitchener, Ont.
2013 UNIVERSIADE POOLS & SCHEDULE:
Pool A: Russia, Poland, USA, Czech Republic
Pool B: Brazil, CANADA, Norway, Algeria
Pool C: China, Taiwan, Slovakia, North Korea
Pool D: Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Chile
July 8: Canada vs. Norway
July 9: Canada vs. Algeria
July 10: Canada vs. Brazil
July 12: Quarter-finals
July 13: Semifinals
July 15: Final
CANADA'S ALL-TIME UNIVERSIADE RESULTS IN WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL:
2011 (Shenzhen, China): 11th / 15 teams (champions: Brazil)
2009 (Belgrade, Serbia): 13th / 16 (champions: Italy)
2007 (Bangkok, Thailand): 11th / 16 (champions: Poland)
2005 (Izmir, Turkey): 12th / 21 (champions: Taiwan)
2003 (Daegu, South Korea): 11th / 19 (champions: China)
2001 (Beijing, China): 8th / 15 (champions: China)
1999 (Palma, Spain): 10th / 16 (champions: China)
1997 (Sicily, Italy): 4th / 15 (champions: Russia)
1995 (Fukuoka, Japan): 10th / 14 (champions: China)
1993 (Buffalo, USA): 9th / 13 (champions: Romania)
1991 (Sheffield, England): 11th / 16 (champions: Italy)
1989 (Duisburg, Germany): No tournament
1987 (Zagreb, Yugoslavia): 7th / 19 (champions: China)
1985 (Kobe, Japan): 6th / 9 (champions: Japan)
1983 (Edmonton, Canada): 4th / 12 (champions: Brazil)
1981 (Bucharest, Romania): 9th / 15 (champions: China)
1979 (Mexico City, Mexico): Canada did not participate (champions: USSR)
1977 (Sofia, Bulgaria): 13th / 19 (champions: USSR)
1975 (Rome, Italy): No tournament
1973 (Moscow, USSR): 8th / 15 (champions: USSR)
1970 (Turin, Italy): 13th / 13 (champions: USSR)
1967 (Tokyo, Japan): Canada DNP (champions: Japan)
1965 (Budapest, Hungary): Canada DNP (champions: USSR)
1963 (Porto Alegre, Brazil): Canada DNP (champions: Brazil)
1961 (Sofia, Bulgaria): Canada DNP (champions: USSR)
1959 (Turin, Italy): No tournament
