(ʿⱦ Ste. Marie, ON, March 19, 2024) - ʿⱦ Athletics is excited to announce its newest Varsity sports team, Women’s Volleyball, competing in the 20 team Ontario College Athletics Association (OCAA) league. This will mark the return of ʿⱦ volleyball after their last competitive season in 2011. The newly formed team will have their inaugural season in 2025, bringing competitive college volleyball back to ʿⱦ Ste. Marie.
The ʿⱦ Cougars will compete in OCAA West division, going head-to-head with some of the top teams in all of Canada including the Humber Hawks, Mohawk Mountaineers and Seneca Sting. Winners of the OCAA will vie for a yearly spot at the CCAA Nationals for a chance to be crowned Canadian champion.
The College envisions long-term success for the volleyball program as a part of their commitment to excellence and the growth of the competitive volleyball landscape across ʿⱦ Ste. Marie and northern Ontario.
“The return of women’s volleyball to our varsity line-up completes our vision of competing in varsity sports that have strong, deep and highly competitive roots in ʿⱦ Ste. Marie,” said Paul Orazietti, Director of Athletics and Student Experiences.
“We’re looking forward to bringing more opportunities to our female athletes on campus. With club volleyball exploding locally, we are expecting to be highly competitive right out of the gate. Recruitment for both a volleyball coach and players will begin immediately.”
Prospective student athletes interested in joining the volleyball team at ʿⱦ are encouraged to reach out to the athletic department as more information pertaining to tryouts, eligibility and scholarship opportunities arises.
For more information regarding the volleyball team, please contact: athletics@saultcollege.ca.
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