FACP: CCAA Volleyball apprentices

The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) is proud to announce its 2021-22 participants in the annual Female Apprentice Coach Program (FACP) for the sport of Volleyball.

This season, 12 former student-athletes are being mentored in CCAA Volleyball. This week, we feature four apprentices from the West – two from Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) and one each from the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) and Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC).

At Camosun College in the PACWEST, Morgan Monkman is being mentored by Brent Hall with the Chargers.

Monkman suited up for two seasons with Camosun before finishing her career in U Sports at Brock University.

“I am grateful for the time I spent as a CCAA athlete,” said Monkman, who was twice named a CCAA National Scholar Award recipient. “I was able to develop my skills and play in a competitive league that provided the valuable game experience that contributed to the success of my volleyball career.”

Monkman and the Chargers earned a silver medal at the 2017 CCAA Women’s Volleyball National Championship.

This season, she’ll work closely with Hall, who is entering his fifth year as Head Coach at Camosun.

While with the Chargers, Monkman played a supporting role, coaching at summer youth camps organized by the Women’s Volleyball program. She also assisted former Head Coach Chris Dahl during practices at the Momentum Volleyball Club.

“I empathize with players and recognize that trust and integrity are foundational in promoting positive relationships within a team,” said Monkman. “Making all members of the team feel valued is a difficult, but essential, aspect of developing positive team culture.”

Meanwhile, at College of the Rockies in the PACWEST, Rhiannon Paterson is being mentored by Bryan Fraser with the Avalanche.

Paterson was a member of the Capilano Blues in the PACWEST for four seasons.

The past two years, she has volunteered at College of the Rockies as an assistant to Fraser, who joined the Avalanche in 2019. Prior to taking over his current head coaching role, Fraser suited up with the Canadian National B Team before playing professionally in Europe for four years.

“In the short time working with Bryan, I can attribute much of my increased knowledge of the game to him,” said Paterson. “It is a humbling experience being able to stand alongside him to help push these athletes to be the best versions of themselves, athletically, academically and as active members of the community.”

Paterson, who represented British Columbia on the provincial stage for two seasons with Team BC, has since volunteered as a coach at the BCO Volleyball Club and at the Volleyball Canada Centre of Excellence.

“I have walked in these athletes’ shoes before and sharing common experiences and feelings is a positive way to connect and offer support during the times of triumph and challenge,” said Paterson.

Over at the University of Alberta – Augustana in the ACAC, Rae Metrunec is being mentored by Steve Enright with the Vikings.

Metrunec was a standout student-athlete at Augustana. In 2020, the Vikings captain was named a CCAA Women’s Volleyball All-Canadian. She also earned two CCAA Academic All-Canadian awards and was honoured four times as a CCAA National Scholar Award recipient.

She has already begun building an impressive coaching resume as well.

Metrunec’s first experience came while she was in high school, as she coached a Junior Boys’ team. She has since worked with U16-U18 girls as an assistant coach with the Battle River Volleyball Club and has also coached regularly at the SACHS Combo and Augustana volleyball camps.

“I strive to be a lifelong learner and teacher, with my core values surrounding helping others, making coaching a natural steppingstone on my path of life,” said Metrunec. “I want to be able to pass on the skills and knowledge that I have learned over the years.”

She’ll work closely with Enright, who after serving as an assistant coach at Augustana for four seasons, took over as Head Coach in 2019. In 2020, he was named the 2020 ACAC Women’s Volleyball Coach of the Year.

Finally, at l’Université de Saint-Boniface in the MCAC, Zoé Savoie is being mentored by Evan Turenne with Les Rouges.

After one year at l’Université de Laval in U Sports, Savoie spent four seasons with Saint-Boniface.

The former Rouges’ captain has already gained some valuable experience as coach of the College Louis-Riel Varsity girls’ team and the Mavericks Volleyball Club U16 girls’ team from 2014-17.

Savoie was set to work alongside Turenne, her former coach, with Team Manitoba for the 2020 Francophone Games in Victoria. That event was unfortunately cancelled due to COVID-19.

“It goes without saying that I am itching to get back in the gym and continue doing what I love, but with a new role and purpose as I transition from player to coach,” she said.

Savoie, who was named the MCAC Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year in 2020, feels very fortunate to have been able to play volleyball at a French institution (her native language) in a province where most sports and athletic training is only offered in English.

“Being bilingual has provided me with so much opportunity and I want to help continue strengthening the French community in terms of access to sports and training so that other people could have the same opportunities I did,” said Savoie.

The FACP, which is funded in part by Sport Canada, is designed to identify and support female graduating student-athletes who demonstrate the desire and skills for coaching by providing them mentorship and practical coaching experience in the CCAA.