Durham lands Cassie Orr
Cassie Orr was a multiple sport athlete growing up until she entered Grade 9 at Notre Dame.
Three years into playing club volleyball, the 17-year-old Welland native decided to focus all her efforts on volleyball and track and field. The former Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations’ silver medalist in javelin then scratched track and field off her list last summer in order to fully focus on her on-court activities.
“Track is very individual and volleyball is a team sport where you can rely on other people if you are not having a good day and you can still do well,” the Grade 12 student said.
Her choice of volleyball has proven to be a good one as she recently committed to play volleyball at the next level with the Durham College Lords in Ontario Colleges Athletic Association play.
Her choice of Durham related to her desire to study Firefighter Pre Service and Education.
“I saw they had that course and a pretty good volleyball team so I applied and started e-mailing. Once I got accepted for the courses, I started sending them my game film and going to their practices. I even went to watch a few of their games.”
Getting a taste of practising with a college team will give her a leg up when she joins the team next season.
“You experience the team atmosphere, you get to know the girls and the coaches, you get to see how intense it is and what you need to do to get better.”
Orr loves how welcoming the team has been.
“As soon as I got there, the coach and one of the captains on the team gave me a whole tour.”
The 5-foot-10 left side and right side, who plays her travel ball with 12th-ranked Defensa of Burlington, is looking forward to the whole experience.
“It’s a new start moving to a new city and a whole new team and coaches.”
Orr feels her game has gotten better in the past year.
“It’s intensity. Knowing now that I am going to play post secondary, I have something to work for. I am going to be the youngest on the team and I have the four or five years to look forward to.”
She is also looking forward to one day having a career as a firefighter.
“It’s helping people and knowing I can put my athletic ability and my way of staying healthy to help keep other people healthy and save their lives.”
Orr started playing volleyball at the house league level when she was seven before moving on to travel ball with the Niagara Rapids. She played with Niagara until this season.
Durham head coach Tony Clarke loves Orr’s versatility and athleticism.
“She’s one of those players who can fill multiple roles and has a very aggressive demeanour on the court that will help boost our team to the next level.”
Clarke believes Orr has the potential to play at Durham in her freshman year.
“I don’t like to say she will start right away. I like healthy competition but she could really push for a starting spot, for sure. We are planning to look at her more on the left side first than we are right side but with her being able to play both positions, it makes our team more dynamic.”
Durham finished second in the OCAA East Division this past season and lost in the first round in the playoffs for the first time in Clarke’s coaching career.
“That was a little tough to take but we are hosting the national championships and we get a host bid. We are looking forward to that to hopefully reset and regroup for the national championship and keep on building for the years to come.”
Clarke is in his 11th season at Durham and has qualified for the OCAA Final Four almost every year and won three OCAA silvers and two bronze medals.
