CIS MVP Marcelle highlights Canada’s women’s volleyball selection
OTTAWA (CIS) – Canadian Interuniversity Sport, in conjunction with Volleyball Canada, announced Tuesday the 12 student-athletes who will represent Canada in women’s volleyball at the 26th Summer Universiade in August in Shenzhen, China.
2011 Summer Universiade website: http://www.sz2011.org/Universiade
Team Canada website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/universiade/summer
The Canadian roster is comprised of 10 CIS and two NCAA standouts. The Canada West conference dominates the selection with eight representatives including the reigning CIS player of the year, University of British Columbia’s Shanice Marcelle.
The six-foot outside hitter, who was born in Toronto but grew up in Victoria, was also named MVP of the CIS championship in 2011 after she led the Thunderbirds to their fourth straight national title. And superb indoor and outdoor player, she has represented Canada at the under-19 and under-21 world beach championships.
Rounding out a talented group of hitters for the Shenzhen Games are UBC teammate Lisa Barclay of Brandon, Man., Manitoba’s Kristi Hunter of Roblin, Man., Montreal’s Marie-Sophie Nadeau of Saint-Aimé, Que., and Alberta’s Krista Zubick of St. Albert, Alta.
Setter duties will be shared by University of Alberta’s Jaclyn Ellis of Mississauga, Ont., and U of Montreal’s Alexandra Lojen of Montreal.
Middle blockers include University of Regina’s Beth Clark of Saskatoon, Manitoba’s Tricia Mayba of Winnipeg, Montana’s Jaimie Thibeault of Sylvan Lake, Alta., and Trinity Western’s Alicia Perrin of Creston, B.C.
Syracuse’s Noémie Lefebvre of Terrebonne, Que., was the choice at libero.
Ellis, Lojen and Nadeau joined Marcelle as CIS all-Canadians in 2010-11. Nadeau also earned CIS rookie-of-the-year honours and, along with Perrin, was named to the CIS all-rookie team.
Barclay previously wore the Maple Leaf at the 2010 junior NORCECA championship in Mexico. Marcelle attended the same event in 2008.
Lojen is the lone returnee from the Canadian squad that placed 13th at the last Universiade in 2009 in Belgrade, Serbia. Canada has struggled in recent years at the world university games posting only one top-10 finish in six tournaments (8th in 2001) since taking fourth place in 1997, a performance that equalled its best result in history.
In Shenzhen, the Canadians will compete in the preliminary round in Pool C against reigning bronze medallist Poland, Taiwan and France. Italy is the defending Universiade champion thanks to a gold-medal win over Serbia in 2009.
The women’s volleyball tournament will run from August 14 to 21.
Canada’s coaching staff for the Universiade was announced back on April 12.
The head coach is Alain Pelletier from Laval University. In his fourth season at the helm of the Rouge et Or in 2010-11, Pelletier guided his troops to the Quebec conference title and a silver medal at the CIS championship.
Assistant coaches Lee Carter from Brandon and Joely Christian-Macfarlane from Queen’s – who will also act as team leader - round out the support staff, along with athletic therapist Christine Johnston.
TEAM CANADA ROSTER
Position Name Height (cm) University Hometown
Setter Jaclyn Ellis 183 Alberta Mississauga, Ont.
Setter Alexandra Lojen 180 Montreal Montreal, Que.
Middle Beth Clark 184 Regina Saskatoon, Sask.
Middle Tricia Mayba 185 Manitoba Winnipeg, Man.
Middle Jaimie Thibeault 188 Montana Sylvan Lake, Alta.
Middle Alicia Perrin 192 Trinity Western Creston, B.C.
Left Side Lisa Barclay 188 UBC Brandon, Man.
Left Side Kristi Hunter 175 Manitoba Roblin, Man.
Left Side Shanice Marcelle 180 UBC Victoria, B.C.
Left Side Marie-Sophie Nadeau 183 Montreal Saint-Aimé, Que.
Left Side Krista Zubick 183 Alberta St. Albert, Alta.
Libero Noémie Lefebvre 175 Syracuse Terrebonne, Que.
COACHING STAFF
Position Name University Hometown
Head coach Alain Pelletier Laval Quebec City, Que.
Coach Lee Carter Brandon Brandon, Man.
Coach & Team Leader Joely Christian-Macfarlane Queen’s Kingston, Ont.
Athletic Therapist Christine Johnston - Winnipeg, Man
UNIVERSIADE POOLS & SCHEDULE:
Pool A: China, Japan, Sweden, Belarus
Pool B: Italy, Brazil, Slovenia, Ukraine
Pool C: Poland, Taiwan, CANADA, France
Pool D: Russia, Thailand, Norway, Hong Kong
Aug. 14 : Poland vs. Canada
Aug. 15: Taiwan vs. Canada
Aug. 16: France vs. Canada
Aug. 18: Quarter-finals
Aug. 19: Semi-finals
Aug. 21: Bronze & Final
CANADA’S BEST RESULT AT THE UNIVERSIADE:
1997 (Sicily, Italy): 4th
1983 (Edmonton, Canada): 4th
CANADA’S RESULTS AT THE LAST 5 UNIVERSIADES:
2009 (Belgrade, Serbia): 13th
2007 (Bangkok, Thailand): 11th
2005 (Izmir, Turkey): 12th
2003 (Daegu, South Korea): 11th
2001 (Beijing, China): 8th
About the Summer Universiade
The Summer Universiade is an international multi-sport event that takes place every two years and is second only to the Olympic Games in the number of participating athletes and countries. The Universiade is open to competitors who are at least 17 and less than 28 years of age as of January 1 in the year of the Games. Participants must be full-time students at a post-secondary institution (university, college, CEGEP) or have graduated from a post-secondary institution in the year preceding the event.
About Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Fifty-two universities, 10,000 student-athletes and 550 coaches vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit www.cis-sic.ca.
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