Simon Fraser University’s middle blocker Madeline Hait is going out on top.
Hait, a senior, was named to the Great Northwest all-conference first team Tuesday.
The 22-year-old Burnaby Central grad finished her NCAA Division II women’s volleyball career tied for 22nd in the nation and second in the conference in blocks, averaging 1.17 stops/set.
Hait also placed sixth in the conference with a .291 hitting average and 162 kills this season.
Hait was among four graduating seniors who finished their women’s volleyball careers with the first winning Div. II season for the Clan since entering the NCAA Division II in 2010.
Brooklynn Gould-Bradbury, Kelsey Robinson and Amanda Renkema were the others who finished off their collegiate careers for SFU with a 3-0 sweep over Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday.
All four figured prominently in the team’s 17th victory of the season, helping the Clan program to an 11-7 record in the Great Northwest conference.
“I really enjoyed it all. There was a lot of school pride being the only Canadian school,” said Hait, who was also one of three SFU volleyball players earning a spot on the Great Northwest academic all-conference team with a 3.60 grade point average in marketing and international business.
The SFU program started at the bottom of the conference but steadily grew in respectability under the guidance of second-year head coach Gina Schultz.
“Our progress is a direct result of the effort, attitude and teamwork the girls bring to the gym every day,” said Schmidt.
Devon May led the Clan with 19 kills against Fairbanks. Robinson chipped in with 12 kills and a dozen digs, while Hait and Renkema added eight kills apiece. Gould-Bradbury had 25 set assists for the Clan.
Earlier in the week, SFU lost a 3-1 match to West region No. 2 Alaska Anchorage.
Robinson led the Clan with with 12 kills and five digs, while Hait added 10 kills and three blocks.
Hait, Robinson and Renkema were all members of the Clan’s inaugural NCAA recruiting class. Hait, a middle blocker, led the team in blocks for the past two seasons.
“We had to struggle through some hard seasons. It’s a good learning experience. You can’t always get the results you want, but there is a level of competitiveness now,” said Hait. “Winning feels good – being able to compete at a certain level and playing point-for-point. That’s what you strive for, knowing you can compete with any team.”
Last year, Hait was named a Great Northwest honourable mention. This season, she earned the Clan’s first-ever conference defensive player of the week award following a 13-block performance in games against Montana State Billings and Seattle Pacific.
But it wasn’t always like that for the Burnaby blocker.
“I started out not as good as I am now,” Hait said. “Commitment is tough over the long term. That’s when you have to take a step back and not place your whole identity in sport.”
Hait balanced her varsity career putting a priority on her studies and earning three consecutive academic all-conference honours.
“Our four seniors have made a huge impact during my two seasons here,” Schmidt added. “We will miss their contributions and leadership next year, but they have helped pave the way for a bright future for our program.”
