Armstrong to close volleyball career at Canada Cup

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This article was published 17/07/2023 (1059 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Janae Armstrong hopes to close her volleyball career in style.

The Vincent Massey graduate is off to the Volleyball Canada Cup with Team Manitoba White this week, competing in the 16-and-under division in Niagara, Ont.

“It’s kind of sad (but) it’s good. I’m soaking in every moment and it’s definitely been a lot of fun but it’s just been flying by,” Armstrong said.

“I’ve been reflecting on how much I’ve improved, especially from last year to this year and also just leadership roles.

“Where I started off when I first started playing volleyball to now it’s like ‘Wow, I can’t believe I came this far.’”

It’s Armstrong’s second summer with the provincial team. Her squad won gold last year and she said it was easier to adjust to the busy practice schedule this summer, having been through it once already. While she finished Grade 12, she’s eligible to play down with the 16U team due to her late birthday.

The outside hitter lost her Grade 9 club season to COVID-19 and couldn’t play all of Grade 10. She suited up for the Vikings’ varsity team in 2022 and made the team this year but chose not to play alongside a stacked roster including University of Winnipeg commit Ella Werbiski, Assiniboine Community College Cougars signee Ryan DeGroot and sophomore star Jersey Hansen-Young, who’s on Manitoba Gold this week.

Armstrong said she was told before the season she wouldn’t receive court time. Head coach Mike DeGroot said the team did not commit to positions at that point in the season.

Either way, Armstrong spent the winter playing co-ed and women’s league and loved it.

“It was so much fun,” she said, adding volleyball has taught her plenty of life lessons.

“It’s taught me to be patient and always work hard and give your best opportunity a shot. I’ve always had an issue of making teams regardless of how hard I’ve worked for it but it’s never stopped me.

“Being in a position of playing on a provincial team and having unreal coaching, I think it’s from my work ethic.”

Armstrong is off to the University of Saskatchewan this fall to study nursing.

This week, her team opens the tournament against B.C. Red and White today at 6 p.m. CT, then takes on Alberta Blue on Thursday at 2 p.m. and Ontario Raptors at 6:30 p.m.

The Gold team, featuring Massey’s Hansen-Young and Mackenzie Lyburn and Neelin’s Anne Gravelle and Tyra Lasuik, opens 18U action on Thursday against Canada White at 7:30 a.m., and plays Alberta 17U at 4:30 p.m.

On the boys’ side, Massey’s Ethan Baraniuk is in the 16U division. Manitoba plays Saskatchewan White on Thursday at 9:30 a.m., New Brunswick White at 6:30 p.m., and Alberta Black on Friday at noon.

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