The UFV volleyball teams have been going through a transition year as they prepare to leave the PacWest conference for Canada West and the U Sports league (the highest Canadian-based league for university/college sports). That process can require a lot of turnover, both at the coaching and playing levels. As new players have been brought in for the incumbent step up in competition, some have stood out. Sarah Brownlee is no exception.
Featured as one of three setters, Brownlee’s 2019-20 campaign with UFV has been impressive. The second-year player is primarily known for her blocking and confidence against opposing teams’ biggest shot makers. However, 2019 wasn’t the first time she met the team.
“I actually practiced with UFV a few times,” Brownlee said.
“The feedback from the coaches was just good all around, and encouraged me to look further into it and pursue it a little more.”
First up for the former Langley Christian School athlete was Briercrest College and Seminary in Saskatchewan, which helped her achieve one of her goals: to play at a Christian college or university.
“My parents actually met at Briercrest, so there’s a little bit of family history there,” Brownlee said.
With Briercrest College, she saw a legitimate opportunity and a fresh start.
“I kind of wanted to go somewhere where no one knew me. Not that I didn’t like the people that I already knew, but just a full new experience. I loved it so much. It was awesome.”
Brownlee decided to return home to study and play at UFV, a place that Brownlee says comparatively is much bigger.
“This isn’t even a big university I don’t think you’d say for out here, but compared to what I was at, it’s huge. There’s different buildings! We had one building at Briercrest for everything, so coming, it’s like ‘Okay!’ I had to get one of my teammates to show me all of my classes the first day.”
Her play on the court came naturally and Brownlee’s skills have been an asset to the Cascades. Known by fans as a confident and hardworking player, her abilities seem to fit well with UFV’s program. She sees her confidence helping a lot up at the net, where she can go up against opposing teams and block shots.
“When we’re playing against big hitters and stuff like that, I just feel super comfortable up there. I feel like I can do a good job.”
Brownlee has definitely helped the Cascades; however, their success is tempered by their drive to always do better. Though UFV is ready for the playoffs according to Brownlee, losing close games that the team could have won can be tough. As she explained, a part of that is the new skills they’ve been learning this year with the changes in coaching staff.
“It’s kind of a bit back and forth. I think we’re developing a lot of new skills that we’ve just only learned this year, and just with the change of coach, she’s bringing in different ways of doing things that we haven’t done before, so I think we are starting to perfect some of those.”
Though a common saying in sports is that there are no moral victories, this Cascades team might be the exception due to their unique situation. Though winning is always a priority, simply learning the new systems and plays and practicing them in live games will aid their transition to Canada West. Though winning in PacWest would be ideal, the transition to U Sports is also something the team must prepare for with equal focus.
With players like Brownlee poised to become future stars, along with the new coaching staff, Canada West teams may have to look out for this group.
The Cascades will hit the road this upcoming weekend when they take on the College of the Rockies Avalanche in a series of away games that will take place Feb. 7 – 8, with Friday’s game beginning at 5 p.m. and Saturday’s at 12 p.m.
Image: UFV Cascade
Photo: Sarah Brownlee
