The Simon Fraser University volleyball team added Emma Jennings of Port Moody and Katie Dolguikh from Ottawa to its 2015 recruiting class.
Jennings is returning home to play for Simon Fraser after two seasons with the University of Toronto and will be eligible to play for the Clan immediately. The University of Toronto advanced to the CIS national semifinals last season.
"Emma comes to us from a very successful CIS program and the experience she has gained over the past two years will enable her to make an immediate impact on our team,” said second-year Clan head coach Gina Schmidt in a school press release. “Growing up in Port Moody, Emma played on high school and club teams with a few of our current players and I think this level of familiarity will help her make a smooth transition into the SFU family."
A 5-11 left-side hitter, Jennings played in 13 sets for the U of T this season. As a freshman, Jennings played in 44 sets averaging 1.02 kills and 1.43 digs per set.
"Besides my love for the West Coast, I was impressed by the volleyball program and the level of play in the NCAA. The opportunity to compete against American teams and travel throughout the States really excites me,” said Jennings. “I am grateful for the coaching and support staff as they have already been so accommodating and helpful which shows their care and commitment towards the athletes and team."
Playing for Heritage Woods in high school, Jennings was an AAAA provincial all-star in three consecutive seasons.
Dolguikh is the first Ontario player Schmidt has recruited into the program. She is heading west after graduating from Lisgar Collegiate Institute.
"We are excited about the competitive experience that Katie will bring to the team,” said Schmidt. “She is a great fit for SFU, both athletically and academically, and we look forward to having her ball control skills and strong work ethic in our gym this fall."
Dolguikh is a 5-9 defensive specialist. She was co-captain of the senior team at Lisgar for the past two seasons and helped lead the school to a silver medal in the consolation bracket at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations provincial championships. Dolguikh’s club team, the under-18 Mavericks, finished fifth at the provincial club championships.
“Strong academics, a beautiful campus, and the chance to play NCAA, while staying in Canada made SFU an attractive choice for me,” said Dolguikh. “It's going to be a huge change to move out to BC, but I couldn't be more excited."
Earlier this year Schmidt added Nicole Chevrier of Langley, Tamara Clarke of Delta and Tessa May of Robert's Creek to the team.
The Clan, which earned its first winning season since joining the NCAA in 2010, finished 2014 with a 17-9 overall record, and an 11-7 record in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, while middle blocker Madeline Hait was named the program's first GNAC First-Team All-Star.
