Elton’s Ramsey kicks off Bobcat recruit class

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This article was published 06/10/2021 (1460 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FORREST — Apparently Lee Carter sees something in Laura Ramsey that even she didn’t know she had.

While the Brandon University Bobcats women’s volleyball team is still a month away from its Canada West season opener, the head coach was quick to secure the Elton Sabres star attacker for 2022-23. Carter made the pitch to Ramsey and her family over supper a few weeks ago and it didn’t take long for her to sign her letter of intent to join the Bobcats.

“I knew that I wanted to play after high school, I knew that for sure but I did not think that I’d be able to play at the university level so I thought that was insane he was even thinking of me. That was pretty crazy but it was super exciting,” Ramsey said after her varsity practice Monday night.

“It was an easy call because of course I’d want to play at the university that’s been my club university … it was also super early and there’s so many possibilities out there but I’m happy that I made this decision.”

The six-foot left side has been part of the Cats Volleyball Club system for the past five years, four of them under Kevin Neufeld, who served as Carter’s interim head coach in 2017-18.

“(Neufeld’s) been amazing,” Ramsey said. “He’s been one of the best coaches I’ve ever had. He definitely knows how to encourage me in the right way so that was great.”

Ramsey feels she’s a consistent, all-around outside hitter and is focused on building her strength, vertical and attacking power over the next year. That comes with time and consistent effort in the gym, which has been tough for just about everyone to find throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ramsey essentially lost two club seasons and her Grade 11 campaign due to restrictions but has new motivation to get better each day.

“During COVID I have no clue where I am amongst other people,” she said.

“You don’t actually get to play so you don’t actually know how you do against other teams, you don’t see other people, so skill-level wise, I had no clue where I was (last season). It definitely added a little spark.”

Carter started paying more attention to her during club camps over the past winter and feels she has a ton of potential.

“She’s six-foot now so she’s good, she’s pretty physical. We have our physical stats we’re looking for in our recruiting of players that play outside and Laura hits those markings. She’s been well-coached, she’s been part of our Cats club for years so we’ve been able to watch her develop,” Carter said.

“She played with Kevin Neufeld in the club system and Mark Geekie in high school and those are two really good volleyball people so she’s just going to get better over the course of this year.

“She’s high and hits the ball well. In the club system … the year before she was over top of people and finding ways to generate some pace behind her ball.”

BU has an interesting roster, with 13 players in their first or second years of eligibility. The veteran corps still leads the way as Rayvn Wiebe is in line for 30-plus sets a night from fellow fifth-year Jamie Bain. Carter says fourth-year Caitlin Le is the “the best libero in Canada,” but there’s a chance all three move on after the season as Le will graduate and could receive professional offers overseas.

Carter feels the future is bright, however, and last weekend’s trip to play the University of Saskatchewan Huskies has his hopes high about this season and beyond.

“It was great. The last day we basically played with some of our younger players against Sask’s majority of their starters.

“… With Keely (Anderson), Avery (Burgar) and Taryn (Hannah), it’s their first weekend ever playing U Sports and they were playing hard against them … We ended up losing 18-16 in the fifth to that group but even though it’s a loss it sure bodes well for us moving forward.”

For Ramsey, the next few years appear full of tight position battles on a deep roster.

“I’m just very thankful for this opportunity,” said Ramsey, who plans to study pre-nursing for the next couple of years. “I think it’s incredible and I’m very excited to join their program.”

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