Volleyball Returns to Conestoga
Varsity men’s and women’s volleyball makes a smashing return to Conestoga College next season after a 16-year absence.
While Ontario universities are poised to swing the axe on some varsity teams in the wake of a world-wide economic meltdown, a projected eight per cent enrollment increase at Conestoga means the college can afford to add teams to its varsity roster, a college spokesperson says.
“We’ve been thinking about how we could do it over the past couple years,” said Marlene Ford, Conestoga’s varsity athletic co-ordinator.
“And with the number of inquiries from students, we thought if we are ever going to do it, now’s the time.”
Conestoga which already offers varsity teams in men’s rugby, women’s softball, cross-country running and badminton doesn’t intend to eliminate sports in the foreseeable future, in part because sports are now seen as a valuable recruiting tool.
Conestoga’s men’s and women’s volleyball and basketball players weren’t so lucky in a previous economic downturn. The college eliminated those teams in 1993 due to budgetary constraints.
Sudbury’s Dylan Cropper couldn’t be happier with the turn of events.
The high school volleyball player intended to study and play volleyball at Ottawa’s Algonquin College in September. That is, until he heard volleyball would be offered at Conestoga in the fall. Now, he’ll pack his bags for Kitchener.
“That made my day,” said Cropper, 18, who said he hopes to play college volleyball before his relatives in Waterloo Region. “This is way easier for me now.”
Conestoga’s volleyball teams, to cost about $30,000 to operate annually, will play exhibition and tournament schedules this season, before making the jump to fully-recognized varsity teams in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association the following season.
Get the full story from Christine Rivet, The Record
