VANCOUVER – Five time U SPORTS women's volleyball national champion and captain of the Canadian senior women's national team, Kyla Richey, has announced her retirement after an incredible 12 years representing the Maple Leaf at the highest level.
Richey's retirement marks the end of a remarkable volleyball career that saw the native of Roberts Creek, B.C. join the Thunderbirds in 2007 and go on to help lead UBC to an incredible five straight national titles.
Richey was named national championship MVP in 2009 and earned the Mary Lyons Award in 2011-12 as the U SPORTS women's volleyball Player of the Year. She was also a co-recipient of the 2012 May Brown Trophy as UBC's outstanding graduating female athlete.
Kyla Richey and the 2009-2010 national champion Thunderbirds
First joining the junior national team in 2005, Richey progressed to the senior squad in 2009, going on to win three World Championships (2010, 2014, and 2018), appearing in a total of 143 international matches.
"I want to congratulate Kyla on an incredible national team career," said UBC women's volleyball head coach Doug Reimer who oversaw Richey's outstanding tenure as a Thunderbird. "She has not only excelled on the court, but she has been an instrumental mentor to other national team players. She has been an inspiration to countless young women volleyball players across the country."
Richey graduated with a Bachelor of Kinesiology in 2012 and, despite her busy schedule, continues to be a major supporter of her alma mater and her former team.
"I'm very proud that she's an alumna of our program," continued Reimer. "She has had an incredible career that began on the Sunshine Coast and continued to UBC where she led us to five straight national championships and then on to her national team and pro successes. Congratulations to Kyla on an incredible volleyball career."
