Over the Edge + October 20, 2010 15 1000 People Come out to Watch Exhibition Volleyball Game Local volleyball game leaves many asking why UNBC doesn’t have its own team BROCK CAMPBELL SPORTS EDITOR Last Saturday a crowd of over one thousand people gathered at the Northern Sports Centre to watch an exhibition volleyball game between the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack (TRU) and University of Alberta Golden Bears. The game was part of TRU’s 2010 Northern Tour, in which the Wolfpack travelled to Prince George and Quesnel to play its CIS counterparts UofA. TRU left Prince George with their first win of the pre- season upsetting the Golden Bears. The Wolfpack needed the the full five sets to bury their opponents, 22- 25, 25-23,25-23,18-25,18-16.. The win marked the first time in five years of competition TRU has ever beaten U of A. Aside from providing PG fans high-class volleyball action, the game also showcased some local talent from TRU. Three members of the Wolfpack, who likely influenced the overwhelming crowd support for Thompson Rivers, developed their skills here in Prince George. Colin Carson, a former Duchess Park Condor and member of the Canadian Junior National Team started at setter. Spencer Reed, who played at PGSS, filled the libero spot (a player utilized for his/her defensive skills), and Cedars Christian grad Michael Wood came off the bench as a left-side hitter. Each player was integral to the Wolfpack’s victory; particularly Reed whose defensive abilities were crucial in TRU’s second and third set wins. However, the most dominant player was TRU’s second year phenom Kevin Tillie, of Cagnes Sur Mer, France. The former French National Team outside-hitter finished the game with thirty-one kills. With the match being such a successful draw for the Sports Centre and a number of local stars competing at the college level; it is worth questioning why UNBC has not developed a volleyball program. CNC used to have a team that competed in the BCCAA but the program has folded leaving Prince George without college or university level volleyball. As far as | understand (and my knowledge is limited) there has been no significant effort toward developing a V-ball team. So is there anything preventing UNBC from producing a volleyball program? UNBC obviously nowhas the facilities to accommodate a team as well as host tournaments. Furthermore, Prince George’s Youth Volleyball Club, which Carson and Reed are products of, could serve as a substantial recruitment field. When asked about the prospects of adding a volleyball program to UNBC athletics, Jason Kerswill, the school’s new athletic director entertained the idea. Kerswill admits that, “With a world class facility right here on campus and a strong and passionate volleyball community in and around Prince George some pre-requisites are in place.” However, Kerswill notes that developing a program requires “a thorough job of planning and putting the necessary pieces in place to make the teams successful”. Therefore, while Kerswill is interested in the prospect of bringing volleyball to UNBC he understands that accomplishing such a task requires due process, such as finding a committed coaching staff. Furthermore, Kerswill and the athletic faculty intend to focus on UNBC’s current programs “to ensure that they are competitive on a yearly basis”. The Life of a First Year Athlete Rookies have to adjust to life on the court and in the class room JUSTIN FAUTEUX THE CORD WATERLOO, Ont. (CUP) — This year, tens of thousands of new students will set foot on campuses across the country for the first time, but new student-athletes have already been on campus for weeks. These athletes are all trying to adjust to university life, while also juggling workouts, practices, team meetings and games — and on top of all that, their studies. “At first it was kind of overwhelming because there was so much going on and it was all so new to me,” Alena Luciani said of her experiences as a first-year basketball player for the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks. “It was pretty hard adjusting to the new class schedule, new class sizes, living in a different place, along with practice every day, workouts on top of that. And then once games started, the huge thing was time management, which | had to get the hang of really quick.” Typically, a student-athlete’s day is the complete opposite of most other students. They’re up around 7:00 a.m., in the gym by 8:00 and in class all morning. That’s followed by a two-hour practice and whatever schoolwork needs to be done. “Playing a sport is basically like having a full-time job on top of being a student,” said Luciani. “We can’t just go home after class and nap for four hours and then do work whenever we want.” BROCK CAMPBELL Hundreds of people watch on as TRU faces off against U of A in an exhibition game over Thanksgiving SUNMITED PHOTO Rookies for the T-Wolves face the same sort of pressures as ny other post secondary athkethes. This demanding schedule can be particularly difficult for a first-time student-athlete . because, in addition to practicing and working Hawks’ baseball team in 2009. out every day, they’re also going through the same difficult transition that faces every student new to the university lifestyle. It was definitely a tough adjustment from high school,” said Andrew Greenberg, who played his rookie season with the Golden “You have new classes, a bigger workload and then baseball six or seven days a week. There were definitely times when things would pile up.” While time management is a necessary skill for any student, it plays a crucial role in the lives of student-athletes as a decline in academic performance can affect them athletically. I n order to keep on top of their workload, first- years at Laurier attend a two-hour study hall, four nights a week. The study hall is mandatory and is run by senior athletes. “The second you get behind, it will affect your grades which will in turn affect your ability to play,” said Luciani. “So it was really good to just take those few hours and sit there and do work ... It would even just help me have a clear head for games, not having to think about school.” The study hall isn’t the only support system for the rookie Hawks. Their veteran teammates become a surrogate family as they settle into life at Laurier. “They've been a big source of positive support,” said Jordan McAlpine, who is just beginning his football career. “ve been approached by a lot of them and they've all told me that if | have any questions about anything, don’t be afraid to call them.” McAlpine sums up how he plans to be a successful first-year student by taking the advice of his coaches. “Don't fall behind, don’t get caught up too much in the social scene. Just get to class and do everything you’re asked and you should be fine.”