By: Monty Mosher
A big chance with the national senior women's volleyball program just makes Courtney Baker want to do it all over again.
The 20-year-old setter from Bridgewater got that chance this summer, touring with a Canadian program destined for the 2018 world championships in Japan. She'd do just about anything to be part of that group when the time comes.
She's back for her third year with the Dalhousie Tigers, the reigning five-time AUS champs looking for a sixth banner in a row. They've had some changes, with a number of veterans moving on, but the Tigers look plenty competitive once again.
The Tigers start the regular season on Friday night against the Acadia Axewomen in Wolfville.
Baker was with the senior national team two summers ago as a practice player. She had to watch as the team hit the road for competitions.
It changed this summer when she was selected for international play in Argentina, Puerto Rico and Richmond, B.C. It was the same competition played over three weekends.
She also played in the world university games in Taipei.
She was a past participant with the national junior team that got to play in the U.S., but the senior ranks incorporate many of the top players in the world.
Team Canada head coach Marcello Abbondanza has helped improve the fortunes of the national senior women's team, which sits on the fringes of the world's top 20.
"He's kind of a big change for the program," said the five-foot-11 Baker, a former rightside player with the Tigers who will be a setter this year. "In the past the women's team hasn't done very well, but they just qualified for the worlds. We won't find out the roster until sometime next summer."
She'll need to keep her expectations in check. There are setters in line ahead of her for the national team roster spots.
"Usually there are only two setters that get taken on a roster, but for the tournament I went to there were three. I'm definitely the younger and less experienced of the three. But we'll see, though."
The Canadian team has a mix of players with a few years left before the 2020 Olympics. While Baker, a kinesiology student, is younger than most, it doesn't mean she's too young.
Canada hasn't sent a women's volleyball to the Olympics since 1996.
She thought it was plenty cool to get to play with Canada's top players. Canada isn't even in the top international grouping and the quality on the court is still astounding.
"The level of volleyball I saw was higher than I've ever seen," said Baker. "To know that there is a group that's even higher is really crazy. I'd just love to be at that level some day."
She has the Olympic dream like everyone who gets an international taste. Perhaps a pro shot in Europe, too.
"I'd love that," she said. "That's the plan."
She played many sports growing up and at Bridgewater High, which always punched above its weight in athletics. Baker excelled in basketball and volleyball, but ran track, too.
Volleyball moved quickly to the top. "It was the easiest direction for me. It was for sure my favourite sport, along with basketball, but it was the easiest one for me to go further."
Dalhousie head coach Rick Scott thinks Baker's experience on the national team will make a big difference for the Tigers this year. He thinks her four months with the national team coaches will be invaluable.
"Courtney has had the opportunity to observe how the best players in our country train, compete and live their lives as professionals and elite athletes," Scott said.
"Many of these athletes are 25 , 26 or 27 years of age. Their experience hopefully has rubbed off on her. Although she is still only 20, she has shown to be a more mature athlete and person which assists her with her leadership and court presence for our team."
Baker accepts a larger role in every sense with Dalhousie, which had to say goodbye to four seniors. Marisa Mota, Abby Czenze, Anna Dunn-Suen and Amy Appleby were a big part of the Tigers run of greatness through the conference.
Dal has had a big recruiting class, but the goals for the end of the season never change.
"It's much different than it was last year, but that's not a bad thing necessarily," Baker said.
For Baker, she can't wait to return to varsity play.
"It's really exciting to bring all of the work I put in and all the things I learned back to Dal,' she said. "I think it's great for our team's development. It's raised the bar in my mind for the expectations I have for myself. I hope to push my teammates to be the best they can be also."