Women’s Volleyball
Getting to know your U SPORTS coaches: Sandra Lamb, Mount Royal Cougars
When you love something, you’ll do anything you can to keep it in your life.
For Alberta native Rayn Perry, that love is volleyball and it took building a volleyball court in the barn on her family’s farm to keep that love in her life. They created more than just a space to play the game. They created a volleyball club of values and family.
The former member of the Alberta Panthers Volleyball Club comes from the small town of Coaldale, Alta. Looking to take her volleyball skills to the next level – and also find some independence from mom and dad, Perry packed up to join one of the most competitive and decorated volleyball teams in the country – the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.
For those unfamiliar, it is no secret that the Canada West division has again and again shown its dominance in U SPORTS Championships. For Perry, it was an opportunity to move to the big city and attend one of the top programs in the country.
I wanted to get away from home and experience a different part of the country, Partially because I was really excited about taking kinesiology at U of T, the program here is awesome.
Rayn Perry
However, it was her journey before landing in Toronto that has defined her love of family as well as the game. The summer of 2013 brought big changes to the family barn. Perry’s father the head coach of the Panthers, built the court in the barn of the family’s potato farm.
“We called it the ‘Panther Den’ because it was very personalized to our team,” says Perry, “The walls are made of big wooden panels and each year all of the team members would sign one.”
But what’s a gym without a studio? The Panthers club has truly been a family affair for Perry. Her mother, Kyra, works as the team’s physical therapist and incorporated the idea to also have a space built on the farm. However, the Panther Den offers more than just a court to play on and a studio to work in.
We would have team building sleepovers at the Den where we would practice and play games and do various activates like laughing yoga, a drumming ensemble and all sorts of art project competitions and challenges
Kyra Perry
The team atmosphere has truly transformed this group of players into a family. Traditions such as the writing on the Den’s walls has evolved into an annual Spud Day community event in which the Panthers team worked to fundraise. Not to mention that various baked potato bar dinners at the Perry household.
Thanks to Rally Pointe, the Perrys were able to use some old flooring alongside some good old elbow grease to make this dream into a reality. Through some intense work to get the shop transformed into a heated, suitable facility to play in, there was only one more thing that the club needed: players.
The other challenge to get this whole idea together was building a trust with these families, You know, it’s a great stake to go out so far, but we’ve done pretty well and now we are an established club.
Chris Perry
There’s more to this Panthers Den than meets the eye. Beyond those barn walls, are principles and values that the Perry family – and close family friends involved in the club – have formed as the building blocks of this team. The Panthers P&R – Pride and Respect, have gone a long way for the club.
“It’s a way of life we attempt to live – with all the people that work here or volunteer, the basis is just to help play the sport we love,” says Chris. “We show absolute love for the game and with that, try to run a realistic view that is a family, pride and respect that you show in life. We try and do that for everybody.”
But, it doesn’t just start from the players themselves, it begins with the parents.
“With the philosophy we have here, we really need the parents to buy into that style,” says Kyra. “We’ve had such great parent support and the Panthers have gotten a really good reputation with other teams and referees. We’re not just creating good athletes; we’re creating good people.”
For Rayn, this freshman season brings a lot of changes: a new city, new teammates, and a new chapter in her volleyball career, but what remains constant is her passion for the game.
“To me, volleyball is fun,” she says. “Teammates are so special, especially at this level where you spend copious amounts of time learning, and growing and hurting and striving and struggling and losing and winning together.”
This desire to be dedicated completely to the team was one of the things that attracted Varsity Blues head coach Kristine Drakich’s eye to her prized new recruit.
The setter runs the team on the court and Rayn has a strong presence as a setter and enjoys leading the offence, Her effort, character and ‘team first’ mentality is what stood out for me. I was thrilled when Rayn decided to come to U of T and join our program.
Kristine Drakich - Toronto Head Coach
With a disappointing end to last year’s season – Toronto, as the defending U SPORTS champion and two-time OUA gold medalist failed to qualify for the national championship after being upset by Western at the OUA Final Four – the Varsity Blues are looking to take this season game by game in hopes of clinching the conference and national title once again. While the road to a championship can be tough, it’s going back to the basics and the reasons of why we play this game. Something Rayn hopes to bring to the team this year.
“I want to be a player who inspires everyone to be super focused and driven,” she says. “But also positive and who reminds everyone that volleyball is fun.”
The season of hard work – and fun, begins Friday night at the Goldring Centre, against the Lakehead Thunderwolves.
Tash is a third-year sport media student at Ryerson University. She’s played volleyball since 11 years old and has stayed involved in the game both as a certified Level 1 referee with the Ontario Volleyball Association and as the colour commentator for the Ryerson Rams men’s and women’s volleyball teams. Having the opportunity to travel to Japan for rugby in 2014, she is eager to continue to broaden her writing horizons in these two sports.