THREE BLUES ALUMNA THRIVING OVERSEAS

Recent University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s volleyball graduates Alina Dormann, Hayley Goodwin and Jenna Woock are all playing professional volleyball in Europe.
 
After a year and a half representing Canada on the world beach tour, Dormann, the Blues all-time kills and points leader, decided to ditch the sand for the hardwood.
 
“Although I love beach volleyball, it wasn’t something I wanted to pursue anymore,” said the five-time all-Canadian. “On the other hand, I knew I would regret leaving the sport without having played professionally overseas. I reached out to my agent and am so happy I did because playing in Turkey and coming back to the indoor game has been such an amazing experience so far.”
 
Dormann is a member of Istanbul BBSK in the Turkish women’s 1st league and boasts that the caliber of play is high.
 
“Most of the girls on my team have been playing exclusively volleyball since they were nine years old and many have not had to deal with the challenge of balancing university with sports,” she said. “As such, the level is quite high and it has been really amazing to experience this level of competition and raise my game to it.”
 
Goodwin and Woock are both playing for UTE in Budapest. A 2021-22 OUA all-star, Goodwin saw moving to Europe as a new challenge after graduation.
 
“Playing professionally in Europe is a great way for me to travel and live in a new place as well as continue playing and growing as a player,” she said. “I’ve felt like I’ve really been immersed in the culture here and have learned so much already about living abroad. I’ve also learned a lot about myself through this process.”
 
Woock, a 2021-22 U SPORTS all-Canadian and four-time OUA all-star, credits the Blues exhibition trip to Italy in 2018-19 for sparking her interest in playing overseas.
 
“We had the opportunity to travel with the Varsity Blues to train with a club in Italy, which gave me a taste of what volleyball could be like as a career,” said Woock. “I now get to experience a new country and culture, all while playing a sport I love. And of course, it was an added bonus that I had the opportunity to do so alongside Hayley.”
 
Both Goodwin and Woock credit the speed of the game in Budapest.
 
“The style is a lot faster paced and more dynamic in terms of transition plays,” said Goodwin. “We train three times a day with two volleyball practices and one workout so it’s a much larger physical demand.”
 
“As a middle, putting up a solid block becomes more difficult as the opponent setters are much more deceptive and the style of play is faster,” added Woock. “You have to develop a quick reaction time and be very agile, whether you are blocking, transitioning, or attacking.”
 
Despite their hectic schedules, all three former Blues are also reaping the rewards of exploring new cities while they play.
 “Istanbul is such a huge city, with so many cool neighbourhoods and beautiful sights so there is plenty to do and see here,” said Dormann. “I’ve been here since August and still feel like I am just scratching the surface of what this incredible city has to offer.”
 
“We’ve been able to explore Budapest quite a bit on our off days,” added Goodwin and Woock. “During preseason, we travelled through Slovakia for a tournament, and we travel throughout Hungary for regular season games but during the season there isn’t any time to go anywhere for more than a day. Over the Christmas break, we’re traveling to Paris for a week.”

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