Abby Guezen has made the Volleyball Canada U19 travel roster.
The 16-year-old, who was born and raised in Sherwood Park, is going into Grade 12 at Salisbury Composite High School (SCHS).
Guezen explained that Volleyball Canada scouted her throughout the school year and invited her to a training camp. From there, she made the 12-person travel team.
“It was an unreal feeling,” said Guezen.
The U19 travel team has been training in Calgary and leaves tomorrow (July 16) for Tulsa, Oklahoma.
“That is where the competition starts. We will be playing in the Pan-American Cup. The top two from that qualify for worlds next year.”
Guezen adds that her coach, Grant Melnyk from SCHS, has inspired her a lot and given her the opportunity to try a new position in the sport.
She gave some advice for younger athletes looking to improve their game.
“Don’t get classified to a position. Feel free to try the other positions and just keep pushing.”
Guezen also played on the U18 Pandas Volleyball team last year, a club out of Edmonton. The multiple-sport athlete plays basketball, slo-pitch, soccer, badminton, track and field and handball.
Five out of 12 players on the Volleyball Canada travel roster are from the Edmonton area.
Anya Fehr from Sherwood Park also made the Canada Cup team with Volleyball Canada -- she attends Strathcona Christian Academy.