Q: Back in 2015-16, your rookie year, you'd get awfully nervous whenever you were approached for the post-game video interview. How are you feeling right now?

A: "(Laughs) I am feeling so much better! This is actually funny, because I went down this huge wormhole on the weekend – I actually looked for those old interviews, and I found them on YouTube! I watched them, and oh my gosh, I was horrified! I couldn't make eye contact, I looked so scared, I hardly enunciated my words. I was so funny. 

"And now, it's just so easy. I think it's because you and I have developed such a good relationship – it's not scary to talk to you. Practice makes perfect, right?"

What are some of your favourite memories over your five years as a Cascade?

"There are way too many to choose from. Probably the best memory was from last season, when we won (PACWEST) bronze. That whole weekend was the best volleyball we've ever played, and that I've ever been a part of at this school. It was just such a spectacular experience and feeling to be rewarded for all your hard work, coming off a game where you know you played well. We competed for it, and it was so rewarding.

"There are a lot of other things, too. I've made so many lifelong friendships, and I learned so much. There are just too many memories to choose from."
 

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You've been part of the leadership group throughout your time with the Cascades women's volleyball team. What does it take to be a leader in a university volleyball program?

"A leader, to me, is someone who leads by example and not just someone who leads by delegation. That was the role I really wanted to create for myself – I didn't want to scare people into following me. I wanted to lead by example and kind of set up what our culture should look like, and make it enticing so that people would want to move forward. A leader, to me, is someone who's always encouraging and not putting their teammates down. 

"That was really the basis for me – I wanted to be a positive leader, not a negative leader. Also, I didn't want to be a leader set apart from everyone. I didn't want that title to be something that differentiated me from the rookies or the second-years or anything like that. I wanted to be a part of the team, while still showing what it means to be a Cascade."

What does it mean to be a Cascade?

"To me, when I think about a Cascade, I think of a hard worker. Someone who puts the team before themselves. Someone who just loves the sport and loves working hard, growing and learning. For me, being a Cascade, I've learned so much more than I have in my entire life. Being a Cascade is just wanting to learn and wanting to succeed. Pursuing excellence, basically."

What's it been like to captain a team during a pandemic?

"Ooh. It's been a wild ride. Especially with so many uncertain things, it's hard to lead into the unknown. It's hard to rile up the troops when there's nothing to look forward to – no games, no pressure in the situation. Especially with me not moving forward with the team next year, it was difficult to say, 'OK, we're working towards next year' when I wasn't going to be there. It's been a learning experience, for sure – trying to keep everything positive and increase the effort towards things, even though there wasn't that game to look forward to.

"Leadership in the past few years was looking toward competition. Leadership this year was more leading towards growth and leading towards enjoyment again. Because we really got to slow down and enjoy the game where there was no pressure.

"I remember coming back in January, after we'd had most of November and December off of practice. I almost had tears in my eyes, I was so excited to play and see everyone again. I think it made everyone realize how special it is to be a part of a team and to play a sport. It's a cliché saying, but you never realize what you have until it's gone. When it was taken away from us, we had the opportunity to just enjoy the sport. We just got to play, be with each other, build our relationships, and have fun. It was so special."

A big part of the team's focus over the past couple of seasons has been on preparing for the leap from PACWEST to Canada West. That CW debut has been delayed by a year due to COVID, but as you depart, how would you assess the program's readiness for that long-awaited moment?

"It's hard to say, because I've never experienced U SPORTS volleyball. It's hard to compare us to UBC or Trinity Western or Thompson Rivers. 

"But Janelle (Rozema, Cascades head coach) is going to set this team up for success. She has so much experience in the U SPORTS world, and she really knows how it works. The first match is going to be eye-opening for sure, and you can't have any off days in U SPORTS. But I think the girls want it enough and they'll really give it their all. I think they're in a good spot."

When you look back over five years, how would you say you've changed as an athlete and a person?

"I have changed so much. I can't even describe it. I look back on little me coming in here as a rookie, I was so shy, I didn't say much, and I wasn't confident at all. Now having those experience as a Cascade, especially being looked up to as a leader, that really helped grow my confidence. I can be a leader, and I can be true to who I am – who cares if I'm judged by other people? I'm a Cascades athlete – I'm cool as heck! (Laughs)

"I feel really blessed to have had the coaching staffs we've had over my years here. Every single one of them believed in me, and there's nothing that can compare to that for my development and growth. It helped me believe in myself, too.

"I've got a world ahead of me full of challenges, and being a Cascade really taught me how to overcome difficult situations and really pursue excellence. Those are lessons I'll take with me forever."

You're graduating with a degree in Integrated Studies, with extended minors in math and kinesiology. What does the future hold for you?

"The future holds teaching. I've been accepted into the teaching program here at UFV – it's such a great school! Eventually I hope to teach
abroad for a while, travel the world. There's lots of ideas floating around. I'll just see where life takes me. There are so many opportunities in a teaching career, so many things I can do. 

"I think I'll end up teaching a lot of math, and of course I'll coach – hopefully take a team to provincials and do really well. That would be a pretty cool dream."