Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – The pre-game advice MacEwan Griffins libero Megan Foxcroft gets comes from sage sports minds.
Such is the case when your grandfather is Alberta Sports Hall of Fame member and former Edmonton Eskimos lineman Ed Molstad, and your father is former UBC rugby team member Simon Foxcroft.
“He’s so big into sports and has always been so supportive in everything I do,” said Megan Foxcroft of her grandfather, who is also widely credited as the architect of the legal agreement that governs the relationship between the players and the Canadian Football League.
“He wasn’t into volleyball, it was more football, but it’s funny, he always will send me texts before my games with little pieces of advice. He’s always been so supportive and has such a great attitude in terms of sports where if you put in the hard work, the results will come and if you respect your coach, respect your teammates, that’s how you succeed in life. He’s always passed down his wisdom of what it takes to get to the next level.”
Her dad echoes those sentiments and can also relate to the specifics of being a student-athlete.
“It’s not an easy task,” she said. “He kind of knows what I’m talking about when I come home and I’m telling him what’s going on – how to deal with the team dynamic and school.”
Not all of their wisdom is useful, though.
“It’s funny. They both give really good advice in terms of the team stuff and competing, but as soon as they try to give me advice on (anything) volleyball specific, that’s where I draw the line. You guys don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said with a chuckle.
Foxcroft and the Griffins will host the Mount Royal University Cougars for a weekend series on Friday (6 p.m.) and Saturday (5 p.m., both David Atkinson Gym, Canada West TV presented by Co-op).
With her family members firmly in her corner, Foxcroft has taken on a larger role with the Griffins this season, sharing starting libero duties with Jordyn Thomas. Thomas is in for serve-receive, while Foxcroft comes in on the defensive rotation.
“Not that they both couldn’t do it (all), but it’s a great combo, keeps them engaged in the game and they both deserve to be playing right now,” said Griffins head coach Ken Briggs.
During the 2019-20 season, Megan Foxcroft had the important role of DS, where she would come in to serve and play defence late in matches for the Griffins (Eduardo Perez photo).
In a long lineage of great liberos the program has had, Foxcroft continues the tradition, taking the torch from those she learned from in her first two seasons spent playing a DS (defensive, serving post-20 point) role.
“I’ve learned so much,” she said. “Starting in my first year, Zoe (Cronin) was in her fifth year. She was such a great mentor to me. Right away, she took me under her wing and taught me so much. She gave me lot of great advice not just about the position and volleyball skills but just about being on this team and being successful.
“Once she graduated, it was Rachel (Jorvina). I learned so much from her. She was an amazing player. Her defence was unreal and she was just so dedicated to this team – constantly trying to get better and improve. Just seeing that taught me so much about what it takes to play at this level and be good.”
Briggs was quick to praise Foxcroft’s cerebral approach to the game, which lends itself to a leadership role on and off the court in her fourth season with the team.
“This year, Megan’s our leader,” he said. “She’s our glue. With a young group like we have, she’s the one who’s going to stop and explain what needs to happen. She understands the game probably the best of everyone because that’s just her mind. She’s analytical and just understands the game plan. She keeps them accountable, which is something this group needs.
“I just think she’s a combination of all of (our past liberos) because of how she understands the game,” he added. “She gets it. I don’t want to use the ‘she’s got a great volleyball IQ’, which is kind of the go-to (response), but she does.”
Megan Foxcroft (1) plays an important defensive role on the court for the Griffins, but is also instrumental in organizing and leading during game action (Eduardo Perez photo).
That’s led Foxcroft to being vocal on the court, organizing the Griffins’ defensive shape.
“As a libero, you’re not hitting, you’re not blocking, you don’t have a role that way,” she said. “You can’t end rallies, you’re only starting them with a pass or a dig. But I think there’s a lot of responsibility in that you have to control what’s going on in the back row and change things if it’s not working.
“I think half the position of being a libero is being a leader on the court. You have to be vocal and you have to help out your teammates.”
Originally invested heavily in dance and figure skating in her youth, Foxcroft’s family pushed for her to play a team sport in order to learn the valuable lessons that transfer to real life.
“I was so into those two sports, but when I got to Grade 7, both my parents and my grandpa wanted me to play a team sport,” she explained. “They thought being on a team was just so valuable. So, in Grade 7, my mom pretty much forced me to try out for my junior high volleyball team. I did not want to. She said ‘you have to go try it, you need to do a team sport.’
“I’m really glad she did because I stuck with it.”
More sage advice that’s proven invaluable.