V-Reds add depth for upcoming season
Sandy Chase / The Brunswickan
The Varsity Reds women's basketball squad was busy over the weekend with two new acquisitions. The new help will hopefully improve last season's 8-12 record.
May 9, 2010 6:50 PM ADT
Both the UNB women's volleyball and basketball teams received news of new additions to their roster last week.
The women's volleyball team will be welcoming back Erica Hay of Sussex. She was accepted into the one-year Bachelor of Education program and will play her final year of CIS eligibility in the upcoming season.
Hay is a former Varsity Red left-side player, who was named a first team Atlantic Conference All-Star in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons, as well as being named a CIS Academic All-Canadian in 2008-09. She helped guide the Reds to the 2007-08 AUS Championship and two appearances at the CIS National Championships.
Head Coach John Richard liked the looks of the team next year already, but knows this news of Hay's return will make them even better.
"Picking up someone like Erica, especially at such a late date, does say a lot for our program," said Richard. "On top of being very athletic, talented and proven within our conference, she plays the game with so much passion and emotion it is contagious. We liked our group before and now she makes it even better. Most importantly the amount of guidance and advice she will provide our younger players will be felt long after next season."
Hay is ecstatic to be back with the Reds and the UNB community.
"I feel very excited and fortunate returning to UNB for the education program," said Hay." I just started training and I'm counting down the days until I step back onto the court to compete as a Varsity Red and be with the girls."
The women's basketball team also added depth both on the court and behind the bench.
On the court the Reds will welcome Juhee Thompson. She comes from the province of Alberta with a great deal of success. Thompson was part of the Basketball Alberta Midget Provincial Team that won a silver at the 2007 National Championships as well as her high school team winning the Alberta 4A Provincial Basketball Championships in her grade 11 year.
Reds Head Coach Jeff Speedy is excited to have such a well rounded recruit coming to UNB.
"Juhee will be a fantastic point guard in the CIS," said Speedy. "She has great court vision, is very tough, loves to push the ball and play up tempo and has great leadership qualities as well. I like everything about her."
Behind the bench Cory Russel will join the Reds as an assistant coach. Russel comes to UNB with a long and impressive resume. He has experience as the Head Coach at the University of Calgary, an assistant with NCAA Stanford University and coached the professional Calgary 88's.
"I am thrilled to be joining coach Speedy and the UNB women's basketball staff," said Russell. "I have been coaching for 40 years at a variety of different levels - high school, NCAA, NBA, and CIS. It is an honour and privilege for me to be able to work with the girls on the UNB team."
Add a comment