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Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference "To be Canada's premiere collegiate athletic conference by developing and inspiring leadership through excellence in academics, sport and citizenship"
Posted: Feb 25, 2020

Varga and team prepare for Women's Volleyball Championships

Varga and team prepare for Women's Volleyball Championships

Statistic-wise, Lakeland College Rustlers' women's volleyball star Jenay Varga is one of the top players in the 2019-2020 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) play.

Let's take a look at her 24 matches 90 set performance for the ACAC regular season, along with where they rank in the 14- school conference: 283 kills, 3rd; 3.14 kills per set, 3rd; .429 hitting percentage,2nd; 60 service aces, 3rd; 0.67 service aces per set, 3rd; 265 digs 7th; 2.94 digs per set, 10th; 363 points, 3rd and 4 points per set, 3rd best in ACAC.

A graduate of Muenster High School in Muenster, Saskatchewan, where she was part of the Cougars back-to-back Saskatchewan High Schools Sports Association girls volleyball championships 2016-2018, Varga did not "officially" play on the team last year 2018-2019.

Instead, she decided to redshirt and be part of the Rustlers program in Lloydminster.

"I redshirted because I knew it would be a good experience to watch our fifth- years. Watch how they played, especially the outside hitters who were Anika Kuse and Selby Becker."

Kuse was a three-time ACAC North Conference All Team selection, and Becker got the recognition twice.

Varga was coming to a team that had won back-to-back ACAC banners. A team that captured Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) women's volleyball gold in 2016-2017 and CCAA silver in 2017-2018.

Her redshirt year, the Rustlers would roll to an ACAC bronze.

"In practice, I got to watch the way they hit the ball and their hand techniques. Where to go on defence and how to make smart decisions.

"Just being part of such a great team and watching the game...you were always really into it. It was nerve-wracking at the time not playing, but it was worth it."

The Varga name is not new to the ACAC ranks as older brothers' Devin and Lyndon both played volleyball for the University of Augustana Vikings.

Lyndon, a middle, was an ACAC North Conference All Team selection from 2016-2019 and Devin, a setter, the same in 2015-2016. Lyndon currently plays professional volleyball in Germany.

What advice did she receive from her all-star siblings: "Usually they told me to enjoy what you're doing now and to keep a level head and not to get frustrated with stuff."

A younger brother Skyler in Grade 11, is also setting the goal for post-secondary sport. All of the Varga kids learned volleyball as youngsters, travelling to the local gymnasiums where their parents partook in co-ed volleyball.

"We would always be hitting balls on the sidelines during timeouts or between games," recalls Varga.

Of why she did not follow her brother's spikes to Camrose and become a Viking: "With Camrose, it just didn't work out. I had previously been a setter, and they wanted me to be a setter, and I wanted to be a left side.

"My brothers told me that the Lakeland Rustlers had been pretty good and that (coach Austin Dyer) was a good coach. They said it would be a good time."

With a record of 18 matches won, six matches lost, 60 sets won, and 30 sets loss, it has been a good year for the Rustlers placing third in ACAC North Division standings.

Her stats at the start of the story showcase an exceptional year for Varga, "Honestly, I did not think that I would do as well as I did."

Of her team's chances at once again returning with a medal at ACAC provincials: "We have the skills to do well, and we can certainly do well. We have to do what it takes and come out and perform."

Qualifying for the 2019-2020 ACAC Women's Volleyball Provincials to be held February 27 - 29, 2020 in Medicine Hat are, in order of finish: 

North Division - University of Alberta Augustana Vikings, defending champion The Kings University Eagles, Lakeland College Rustlers, NAIT Ooks. 

South Division - Briercrest Clippers, Red Deer College Queens, Ambrose University Lions and Medicine Hat Rattlers.

Key players to keep an eye on are: 

  • Ambrose University: Julia Kemper, 9th in hitting percentage, 2.80 and 11th in kills per set at 2.58. 
  • Augustana: Rae Metrunec, No. 4 in service aces, 48; No. 4 hitting percentage, .365 and No. 5 in service aces per set at 0.55. 
  • Briercrest: Rebecca Garner, No. 1 kills per set at 4.01, No. 2 in total kills 297 and No. 2 in service aces per set at 0.84. 
  • Kings University Eagles: Lauren Kroetsch, 6th in hitting percentage, .299; 5th in total attacks, 586; 6th in points 300 and 6th in points per set at 3.5. 
  • Medicine Hat: Megan Hoeber, 1st block solo, 59; 1st block total, 60 and 1st in blocks per set 0.68. 
  • NAIT Ooks: Kate Dyck, 2nd in assists, 699 and 4th in assists per set, 8.03. 
  • Red Deer: Tess Pearman, 4th in kills per set, 3.10 and 4th in points per set at 3.8.