Chargers volleyball teams measure up outside playoffs
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February 27, 2008
Having finished the 2007-08 British Columbia Colleges’ Athletic (BCCAA) season just outside the top six teams in the province, the Chargers men’s and women’s volleyball teams did not qualify for the playoffs, but measured up in many other ways to make the season a success.
Despite the fact that it is the first time in 12 years that the men’s team has not qualified for the provincial playoffs, team members ended the year feeling positive, recognizing the accomplishments they made over the second half of the season.
“The players ended the year feeling good about themselves and realize how much they have improved since their eighth place finish at the New Year's tournament at Malaspina,” said head coach Charles Parkinson.
Picking up the reigns of the Chargers men’s volleyball program following former head coach Linda Henderson’s departure in December, Parkinson had little time to jump in and reshape the program.
"Taking over a program in the middle of a season is difficult on both the players and the coach. There are many adjustments in style and philosophy that have to be made and I thought the Camosun men did an outstanding job of adapting to a completely different approach to the game. It took awhile for our new defense, offense and blocking systems to work, however, the athletes were patient and worked extremely hard. In the end, they were rewarded as they went from three wins in their first 10 matches to winning three of their last four, and five of their last eight. This bodes very well for next season where we hope to once again be in the hunt for the title," explained Parkinson.
While not making the playoffs is disappointing, veterans like Camosun’s fourth-year leftside player and Business Administration student, Dan Goodburn are pleased with the team’s progress. “I like what Charles has done with the program and I’m optimistic about playing out my fifth year next year,” he commented.
Goodburn, a three-time Canadian Colleges’ Athletic Association (CCAA) Scholar Athlete and 2005-06 Academic All-Canadian, finished the 2007-08 season first in the BCCAA league in average kills per game (4.05) with a season total of 263 over 65 games played. He also finished 11th in the league in digs (17.5) with a season total of 114. Goodburn was recently awarded with a BCCAA Athlete of the Week title and was named a BCCAA Second Team All-Star.
Other Chargers who finished the season on the BCCAA League Leaders list include:
| Garrett Marcellus (Oak Bay High) | 1st year Leftside | #11 in kills |
| Dana Allan (Claremont) | 5th year Power | #3 in kills & #12 in digs |
| Tanisha Marcelle (Spectrum) | 1st year Leftside | #14 in kills |
| Allie Thomas (Frances Kelsey) | 2nd year Middle | #8 in blocks |
| Cortney Fraser (Belmont) | 1st year Rightside | #13 blocks |
| Laura Ouilette (Lambrick Park) | 2nd year Rightside/Libero | #9 digs |
One student-athlete who didn’t make the BCCAA All-Star list, despite having fantastic stats and being a strong candidate, was fifth-year veteran Dana Allan.
“Dana was a prime contender for an All-Star, but tradition often holds those positions to players from play-off teams,” said Chargers women’s head coach Alison Hitesman. Hitesman added, “Having seen all the other top power hitters in the league, not one of them commanded the court as offensively, defensively and mentally as Dana did. Not once did she falter under pressure -- and that, is the mark of an All-Star."
Over her five-year career at Camosun, Allan has been the recipient of numerous athletic and academic awards. She is a two-time CCAA Scholar Athlete, a two-time BCCAA Athlete of the Week and also earned a BCCAA Academic Excellence. Last year, Allan received the prestigious Camosun College President’s Cup award for achieving a perfect grade point average of 9.0, an accomplishment that is unprecedented and that will be extremely hard to match.
During Allan’s final weekend of play, she accumulated an incredible 44 kills in two matches, as well as 20 digs and three aces, a remarkable end to a remarkable career.
Although she has completed her fifth year of eligibility as a student-athlete, Allan will not be leaving the Chargers altogether, as she will be leading a group of young players into the Provincial 21U Championships in April – the start of what should be a long and successful coaching career.
“The next season will build on the strong ending we have accomplished and with some top additions like Alena Larson from Francis Kelsy, Megan O'Neil for Dover Bay, Chelsea Maier from Claremont and some strong players from Vancouver and Alberta, Camosun is poised to grab a stronghold on the playoff positions for 2008-09 all in time to start a whole new experience of winning at the new PSI facility,” reported head coach Alison Hitesman.
Next up for the Chargers Men is the BC Junior Championships. Parkinson stated, “It's a time for us to include some of the younger players and some of the prospects for next year, like Oak Bay's Carsten Penner. It's also a wonderful opportunity to play against some of the best young talent in the province from teams like UBC, Malaspina and Thompson Rivers.”
“The student-athletes should be pleased with their accomplishments this past season. As rookie coaches, both Alison and Charles can look forward to building upon this past year’s experiences as the programs move to the PSI,” commented Recreation and Athletics Coordinator Graham Matthews.
Contact
Graham Matthews
Recreation and Athletics Coordinator
Phone: 250–370–3601
matthews@camosun.bc.ca
Last updated: February 27, 2008 8:33 am
