HCI grad Lindsey Larson has temporarily left behind the heat of El Paso, Texas, for Winnipeg to play volleyball with the B-team of Team Canada for the month of June.
Larson applied online for the spot and went to tryouts in Winnipeg, where eight girls out of about 30 were chosen for the team. Larson has also been able to train and scrimmage with the A-team. Though she has been playing competitive volleyball for a long time, that doesn鈥檛 mean that she knows everything about the game and notes the 鈥渢op notch coaches鈥� she gets to work with.
鈥淚鈥檝e learned so much since I鈥檝e been here; it鈥檚 kind of ridiculous actually,鈥� Larson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot different playing in the States and coming back here 鈥� I鈥檝e learned a lot of different techniques for setting.鈥�
Other girls on the B-team are from all over Canada (appropriately for Team Canada), such as British Columbia, Ontario, and Alberta. With such a wide variety of players, it stands to reason there would be different styles of playing, but Larson has managed to adjust. For example, British Columbia is a big volleyball province with faster players.
鈥淔or them, they run a lot of fast offense,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his is way different for me 鈥� It鈥檚 good for me because I learn all kinds of different sets.鈥�
However, Larson describes herself as a physical player who is quick getting to the ball and can get high over the net.
Normally, the B-team would have the opportunity to travel and play, but this year the funding isn鈥檛 there so the girls on the team train with each other and the members of the A-team.
鈥淚 would say (the standout moment) was just the scrimmage overall against the A-team because it was a really big deal to me. I realized I was playing with the best players in Canada and playing at the highest level I could just then 鈥� it was an awesome experience,鈥� she said.
On the last day of tryouts, the coach told her he wanted her on the team even though the tryouts weren鈥檛 done yet.
鈥淚t was awesome (to get the spot). I think I really had a shot when I tried out, but they had a lot of good players,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was kind of a good feeling (making the team) because I was able to relax on the last day.鈥�
Larson also appreciates being closer to home and being able to see friends and family.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good knowing I鈥檓 this close that if they wanted to come see me 鈥� they could come,鈥� she said.
Larson has two years left of her civil engineering degree while also playing on the university team. She just got her travel schedule for the year, which includes Florida and Kentucky.
After college, she hopes to make the A-team, which is invitational. From there, she hopes to find a contract overseas to play.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always been my dream to play after college,鈥� she said.
