This is the first in a series of articles about Comox Valley student athletes who are moving onto the next level in their sport.
Her path started at Robb Road Elementary, under the tutelage of Patricia Reader. Come September, Sarah McKillican will step onto the volleyball court at Mount Royal University in Calgary.
The star player and graduating student from Mark Isfeld Secondary has earned a scholarship to the school that competes against the likes of UBC and the University of Calgary in the Canada West conference of USports.
“Very excited to take that step in my life,” said McKillican, an 18-year-old setter who was a first-team all-star selection at the last two B.C. high school volleyball championships. She was also an all-star at club provincials.
In her Grade 11 year, the Isfeld Ice girls placed fifth in B.C. Last fall, they finished fourth in the province.
Isfeld coach Kurt Stushnoff says McKillican was a leader on and off the court, and was consistently the best player on the team. Before practice, she would sweep the floor and set up nets, then lead her teammates in a warm-up. He also noted her high volleyball IQ — thinking ahead of the play, knowing where teammates are positioned, and adapting style and tactics as required.
University coaches who comprise the Varsity Letters ranked McKillican number 15 among B.C. high school volleyball players. They echo Stushnoff’s comments about her IQ on the court:
“Sarah is an exceptional athlete. When she steps on the floor she has the ability to elevate the people around her through her undeniable energy, her offensive IQ and her defensive pursuit. She is a fierce competitor and has a work ethic that is often unmatched.”
In club volleyball, McKillican has been part of a team called the Wave, comprised of Comox Valley and Campbell River players. Her father Lee helped start the team last year in an effort to compete with clubs in Victoria and the Lower Mainland. She has also played with the provincial team the last two years. Team B.C. fared well last year in Florida at a high performance tournament, prior to the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg.
“It (Summer Games) was an amazing experience,” McKillican said. “(But) Our team didn’t do as well as we should have…You win some, you lose some.”
McKillican is thankful for the local coaches who helped her along the way. She also credits recruiting consultant Bill Green for kickstarting the process of applying to post-secondary schools. The process involved phone calls, emails, compiling videos, and speaking with coaches at tournaments.
She had considered applying to American schools, but decided to stay in Canada.
“In the States, they’re very different styles of volleyball,” said McKillican, who hopes to one day play for the national team.
Another dream would be playing professional volleyball, perhaps in Europe.
“I think the school I’m going to will set a good path for that,” she said. “The coaches can push me to make myself better. I’m excited to see where that takes me.”
