OVA News

Indoor, outdoor, at the beach, on the floor.

If there’s a net and a volleyball somewhere, Stratford’s Katie McLay will be there.
The 15-year-old St. Michael student started hitting the ball “when I was about two”.
She hasn’t stopped.
And she’ll be blasting away for the 16U Region 3 squad at the provincial championships in Toronto mid-August.

“I made the team last year as a 14-year-old, which was totally unexpected,” McLay said this week. “I was a bit intimidated going into camp but once we got on the floor everything was fine. I made the team as an alternate and gained some experience which definitely helped me at tryouts this year.”

The tryout took place earlier this month in London, where McLay was identified as a keeper after just one practice. She’ll be called upon for her all-around skill, particularly her power, from the left side.

“Hitting is the best part of my game and the thing I enjoy the most,” she said. “I also like playing defence and passing. With the level of talent that’s out there, you need to have a well-rounded game.”

The Region 3 team is comprised of players from Windsor to Georgetown. Many of them, McLay included, are likely to be on the team again in 2010, competing at the Ontario Summer Games in Ottawa.

“They hold the Games every two years and that’s what I’m really looking forward to,” McLay said. “I still have one year of 16U eligibility and I want to make the most of it. It’ll be really cool seeing all the different athletes from the various sports. I want to be a part of it.”

She also looks forward to being a part of OFSAA next spring, which her school is hosting. McLay, who just completed Grade 9, started the past season with the Warriors seniors but dropped back to junior, where she helped lead the team to Huron-Perth and WOSSAA titles.
“It turned out to be a great year,” she said. “I’m moving up to senior this coming year and what a perfect time, with OFSAA here. It’s going to be really exciting.”

McLay has also proven to be a highly successful beach player, along with partner Marissa Thomson. The two have combined for golden performances over the past couple of years at Toronto’s Ashbridges Bay, the four-star volleyball playground on the shores of Lake Ontario.

“I love playing both beach and indoor, but I’d have to say I prefer indoor,” McLay said. “I like having six on the floor and working together as a team. It’s exciting and it’s very intense.

“Beach is fun but can be difficult at times, depending on the weather. Some days are hot, some are rainy, but you have to deal with it. It challenges you … I think it makes you a better player when you have to test yourself when conditions aren’t perfect.”

McLay will continue to train beach twice a week while waiting for the start of Region 3 practices in St. Catharines early July.

Following that, a three-day training camp will take place in which the team will do nothing except eat, drink and sleep volleyball, in preparation for the provincial tournament.

McLay will be there.
Smiling.

Mike Savage, Stratford Beacon Herald