Women’s Volleyball
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Throughout the 2017-18 season, U SPORTS sits down with one key athlete, coach, and staff member of each U SPORTS athletic program in our new interview series “Getting to know…”
- Name: Jade Griffiths
- School: Ryerson University
- Sport: Women’s volleyball
- Position: Outside Hitter
- Year of eligibility: Fourth
- Program: Professional Communication
- Hometown: Windsor, Ont.
1. What attracted you to Ryerson University?
I was most attracted to Ryerson because of the academic programs the school offers. Students in Ryerson’s Faculty of Communication and Design know that they are learning from the best of the best and are being prepared for actual industry life. I was hesitant to leave home at first, but I knew I needed to in order to pursue an academic program that best fit my needs. The Professional Communication program seemed like it would give me the opportunity to explore different streams of communication without having to choose just journalism, just public relations, just graphic design, etc…and it did!
2. What’s your favourite memory, and your greatest athletic achievement as a U SPORTS student-athlete?
My favourite memory and greatest athletic achievement as part of the Ryerson women’s volleyball program was winning an OUA silver medal in my second year – which was the program’s best finish since 2001.
3. Where are you hoping your path will take you after university?
One of the greatest things about the Ryerson athletic department is our excellent volunteer program (R.A.V.E) – where student-athletes are required to complete a minimum eight volunteer hours and one team initiative each year. I’ve always had a passion for volunteerism and my experiences with R.A.V.E have developed this passion even more. I am studying communications and would like to stay in the communications field, but preferably working for a non-profit organization – or maybe even starting my own someday.
I knew coming to university that I wasn’t interested in pursuing a professional sports career. So, I’ve had to make my time at Ryerson count. However, volleyball has been such a big part of my life that I know I’ll always be involved in the sport in some way – like coaching a club team.
4. Who’s had the greatest influence on your athletic career?
Definitely, my parents. Both of them were multi-sport athletes growing up and competed at the university level in track and field. Their interest in sports is definitely what sparked my interest in them too. They always encouraged me to participate in multiple sports growing up and I think this helped me become a better athlete. They have been a constant source of encouragement for me throughout my athletic career – driving around the province to cheer me on at competitions and supporting me through every injury. I definitely wouldn’t be the athlete or person that I am today if it weren’t for my two biggest fans.
5. Who is someone in the sports world, past or present, with whom you’d love to have dinner with? Why?
I’d choose someone like Spud Webb – someone who defied the odds in their sport. I was told for many years growing up that I couldn’t play volleyball at the next level because of my height. However, there are so many people in the sports world who have been told they couldn’t and did the exact opposite. I definitely think picking any one of their brains would make for a fun and inspirational dinner conversation.
6. What is your pre-game ritual? Do you have any superstitions/idiosyncrasies around preparing yourself for a game?
I don’t have any superstitions about game day but I have certain things I do to get myself ready. I usually listen to recordings of positive self-talk and/or different spoken word poems/songs from my favourite author and speaker: Steven Furtick. I have also been teased for ALWAYS wearing sweatpants for warmup, but I have pulled enough muscles in the past to know I need a good warmup before a game or a practice.
7. What’s your go-to song to get pumped up for practice or a game?
“You Can’t Stop Me” by Andy Mineo and “I Can Handle It” by Steven Furtick
8. What’s your favourite social media account to follow?
I’m an avid Buzzfeed-er…as cliché as that is.
9. If you could try another sport, what would it be and why?
My sisters and I were obsessed with the women’s rugby sevens during the 2016 Olympics in Rio! Those women were fit, strong, and fierce. We were so inspired watching them compete. Rugby is definitely the type of sport that can teach young girls that it’s possible to be strong, competitive, athletic, and still be a girl.
10. What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you as an athlete?
In my second year, I was standing too close to the box when performing a box jump and broke my right (dominant) hand. Thank goodness the season was over.