Hamiota volleyball star Ella Gurr was part of the University of Manitoba Bisons team that captured a National Championship and the athlete/musician says this group is special both on and off the court.
"It was absolutely amazing," Gurr says thinking back to the weekend. "We came into the National tournament, we were prepared, we battled our hearts out and we won. It was absolutely lovely."
Watching the final play develop, Gurr says she was on a roller coaster of emotions. "It was amazing. I was sweating, I was nervous. But, my team pulled through so hard. All of us were on the edge of our seats and we were just waiting to get that last point so we could run out on the court. We were just so excited."
One of the best photos and a very telling moment about the group was the moments after winning, the group came together on the court and shared in the moment. Gurr believes it's that closeness that helped them get to the top of the mountain. "That was so fulfilling. After all the work that we've put in, when we all ran to each other, it was so wholesome. With everyone being able to celebrate, looking at each other with tears in our eyes, thinking how it all paid off. It was life-changing."
How Gurr even became a member of the Bisons is an interesting story that tracks all the way back to her first days in the sport, playing in her hometown.
"I'm from Hamiota," she says proudly. "I played volleyball there and I played club in Brandon. I was looking for a university or college to play at where I could also pursue music. I found that U of M was great, so I emailed coach Ken (Bentley) and told him about myself. I think he took me on because, not only was I somewhat decent at volleyball but in need of coaching, I think he took me on for my piano as well. I think as most people know, Michelle Sawatzky was in a similar boat. He picked her up (as an assistant coach) and it's been awesome."
While many kids play volleyball in school never really thinking it could lead anywhere, Gurr says she never felt that way and it's because of some key supporters in her life. "My parents were a really big factor in that," she recalls fondly. "Because my mom, before Brandon had a university team, did play there. She was the one who said 'just go for it, Ella.' So, that's what gave me the idea of playing university and I just loved the sport so much. It was a dream come true when I got both into the school I wanted and I made the team."
Gurr has always believed in herself, and when asked if the 5-year-old Ella would believe she is where she is today, the grownup Ella laughed and responded, "(the young me) would say, well obviously!" Gurr laughs at the thought of interacting with her younger self. "I always had high expectations of myself as a kid. I once came across a time capsule and it was all 'you better be somewhere in music and in volleyball', it's pretty nice I can look back and say that it all happened."
Coming to the Bisons, Gurr says it was an adjustment both physically and mentally. "It's so different. In high school, it was very much 'oh, I love my friends, I'm so happy we can hang out and play volleyball after school'. But, in my first year, you could feel the change immediately. It was so intense compared to high school. Not just the volleyball, but the team culture. Putting in the work, it was so much more serious. I was, 'you will get that ball up'. You don't have a doubt in your mind. My first year was so eye-opening, because I was always someone who thought volleyball was just fun. I then learned that volleyball becomes fun because you raise the level. You become so good and play with so many good people that it makes it so intense and so awesome."
Tomorrow (Friday), part two of the conversation with Ella Gurr. She'll discuss what it was like going into her second year, going on a magical run to a National Championship and what the future holds for her and the Bisons.