Hey everyone!
I hope everyone had an awesome spring break and are back to
the grind for a final push. I’ll start off by filling you guys in about CIS’s.
I’ll do a special shout out to Julio because he was recognized as a 1st
team all Canadian at the CIS banquet, huge honor! As Friday approached, our
team watched game tape and mentally prepped like usual, finally the time
arrived for our ¼ final match up against McMaster University. The first set saw
two teams slugging it out back n fourth, point for point until finally McMaster
was able to capitalize and took a 25-23 set win. Unfortunately, our team could
not keep up with them as the match continued; our passing broke down in the 2nd
and 3rd set and didn’t allow for much isolation to our wings or
middles. McMaster took the 2nd and 3rd set with scores of
17 and 15.
The 2nd day, we faced up against the previous two
time national champions, Trinity Western Spartans, who were upset in their ¼ final
play on day 1 by Western. I think our team re grouped very well from the
previous day and even surprised TWU abit. As the match went on, both teams
realized nobody was interested in giving up the loss that easily. After 2.5hrs
of play, and a 5th set heart breaker, TWU came out on top. Set
scores were 25-19, 23-25, 25-20, 20-25, 12-15. As much as I hate losing,
especially to finish my career as a varsity red, I guess I could bite my tongue
abit and swallow this. Our team showed that definitely did deserve to be at the
CIS’s and that we can compete and play with any of the top programs in the
country. With having 8 rookies on our roster this season, and 3 of them being
on the floor for the majority of the championship, it only speaks leaps and
bounds about the direction of the program and the high potential it has to grow
further in years to come.
At the end of the tournament, hosts Laval finished on top
and I can’t say anything but congratulations and good wishes towards the team
members and coaching staff. Julio was once again honored by receiving the R.W.
Pugh Fair Play Award for the tournament.
As we packed up the bus to leave and drive home…I sat in my
seat realizing that would be my final roadtrip as a varsity red…weird thought
to cross through your mind after 5 years of long bus rides in the early
mornings, and even longer bus rides through the late night. I look back on my 5
years and it feels like yesterday I was just arriving at UNB and showing up to
my first try outs in the LB gym. Scared to make any single mistake thinking it
would be the end of my career, but anxious and ready all the same to embark on
a new journey. The reality is over my career, I made mistakes…several haha… but
truly believe I learned from all of them and they shaped me into the 5th
year graduating athlete I am today.
To my head coach Dan McMorran, along with several other
coaching staff members over the years, and the entire varsity reds office, I cannot
begin to describe the thanks and appreciation I have towards all of you! You’ve put countless hours into my university
career and helped it be as memorable as possible. I also want to thank all of
my different teammates over the years; I’ve played with 40 different
individuals over 5 years and have made special bonds and memories with all of
you that I will treasure for the rest of my life. I also want to thank my mum n
dad…who as most of you know, were without a doubt my biggest fans from day one,
travelling all over Canada to cheer me and my team on throughout my 5 year
career! I’d like to think I’ve grown as
a volleyball player while attending UNB, and improved my skills along the way,
but even more so, I’ve grown so much as a person and all of you helped me along
the way. I am proud to say I am now a varsity reds alumni!
My advice to any
varsity athlete who reads this is pretty simple…take it ALL in. Whether you’re
an incoming recruit, or a 4th year athlete going into your final
year, make the most of your time at UNB. As busy and stressed as you may feel
at times, in 30 years, chances are you won’t be thinking about how stressed you
were. Go out and support your fellow varsity reds when they have home matches,
be obnoxious and loud fans… Get involved with as many community involved
varsity reds programs as possible, believe it or not, it’s actually fun, it
doesn’t just look good on a resume…strive to be that academic all-Canadian in
the classroom, it’s what you’re at university for anyways, and if not an all-Canadian,
then push to improve your marks each semester…and finally, and most important,
enjoy your teammates and coaches, you’re with them daily and they legit are
your second family! When you have a poor practice or game, or a frustrating
experience with a teammate or coach, don’t dwell on it…embrace it, learn from
it, and move forward…because your end goals are all the same; trying to become
CIS champions.
Thanks for reading my blog over the past few seasons
everyone!
Cheers,Costa
Fellas, I love yas!
