Thursday, March 14, 2013

5 years, 1 blog post


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!

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