Former ACAC Student-Athletes Prepare to Compete in ParaVolley PanAmerica Zonal Championship
Edmonton, AB (April 27, 2023) – Sarah Melenka and Payden Vair, both former ACAC student-athletes, are gearing up to compete for the Canadian Women’s Sitting Volleyball team at the ParaVolley PanAmerica Zonal Championship. The championship will take place from May 9-13 at the Saville Community Sports Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. The Canadian team is vying for a spot in the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
Sarah Melenka, a former student-athlete in the ACAC, played with the NAIT Ooks Women’s Volleyball team from 2016-2019. Originally from a small town, she considered it a dream come true to receive a scholarship in the ACAC. However, her volleyball career was at risk after injuries and surgeries during high school. Despite this setback, she made the most of her red shirt year in the ACAC by training with Team Canada sitting volleyball. Eventually, she discovered that her disability in her right leg would allow her to compete with the team. Since 2017, she has been a part of the Paralympic team. Melenka had also earned the Academic Athletic Award during her remaining two years in the ACAC and was named captain of her team for the 2018-2019 season. Her time in the ACAC not only allowed her to achieve her athletic aspirations but also enabled her to form lifelong relationships with mentors, friends, and her fiancé.
Payden Vair played for the Lethbridge Kodiaks Women’s Soccer team in 2017, earning Newcomer of the Year after a remarkable rookie season. In July 2018, Vair experienced a lawnmower accident on her parents' farm, which resulted in a severe injury that almost claimed her life. Following her accident, Payden had several surgeries, one of which was amputating her right leg, forcing her to learn to walk again. While she recovered in the hospital, Kodiaks manager, Todd Caughlin, connected her with Canadian sitting volleyball coaches and players. It didn’t take long for Vair to take advantage of this new opportunity. Fast forward to today, and Payden finds herself preparing for a crucial tournament on home soil. Vair still finds it hard to believe that she is playing volleyball at an international level, but she remains appreciative of the opportunities the sport has given her. Payden expressed how the entire thing seems so surreal. She recognizes the accident was a terrible and traumatic situation which has changed her entire life, however with everything that has happened she notes the positive impacts she’s experienced as well.
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference expresses great excitement and support for Sarah Melenka, Payden Vair, and their team as they gear up for the ParaVolley PanAmerica Zonal Championship in Edmonton from May 9-13. The tournament, backed by Volleyball Alberta and others, features Sitting Volleyball, a highly skilled and fast-paced para sport in which former ACAC student-athletes are well-equipped to compete. The conference wishes them the best of luck in their upcoming games.
Find more details here: https://volleyball.ca/en/national-teams/sitting-women-senior
About the ACAC: The ACAC is the governing body for intercollegiate athletics in Alberta. Its mission is to provide competitive collegiate sport experiences, promote academic achievement and be a leader of sport development in Canada.
For more information on the ACAC, please visit our website: www.acac.ab.ca
For additional information, contact:
Mark Kosak, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Chief Executive Officer
403-875-7329
Markk@acac.ab.ca
Kayla Blacquiere, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Kaylab@acac.ab.ca
Twitter: @acac_sport Facebook: Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference Instagram: @acac_sport
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