Pollock makes the grade
Jenna Pollock was determined to crack the roster of Canada’s Youth National Volleyball Team this time around.
The 15-year-old student at Sir Winston Churchill made the cut as an alternate last year when Canada finished second at the U18 NORCECA (The North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation) Girls Continental Championships, but was one of 17 to make the final roster in 2019.
“I’ve been practising all year,” she said. “I’ve been trying to get this all year. I was so set to make this.”
Pollock attended tryouts in Orangeville in May and was one of 17 players chosen from across the country to represent Canada at the World Championships in Egypt Sept. 3-15.
She received the good news via e-mail.
“I was freaking out the whole day. I was asking my parents all day if they had an e-mail yet,” she smiled.
“I’m super excited. It’s going to be such an amazing experience, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Pollock, who has played at the club level with the Niagara Rapids her whole career, is a natural, according to Team Canada assistant coach Dale Melnick of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
“She’s another great athlete who came through the Volleyball Canada Centre for Excellence,” Melnick said. “She is a true volleyball player. She has one of the fastest arm swings in probably the country. She’s really quick. She is another athlete who is part of that pipeline for the national team.
“She needs to build some strength and she will be a tremendous powerhouse internationally as well.”
Pollock can’t wait to see what the championships hold.
“It’s going to be fun. I feel like it will be very competitive and surreal to be around some of the top athletes around the world,” she said.
Representing her country will be the icing on the cake.
“That’s going to be amazing. I’m really proud to do that and excited.”
The team spent the last week working out at Laura Secord Secondary School and Niagara Sport and Social Club, located at Rex Stimers Arena, at the suggestion of Pollock.
Nathen Jensen of Fonthill is also a member of the coaching staff.
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