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Croxford volleyball player commits to University of Calgary Dinos

In deciding on where she wanted to pursue her post-secondary athletics, Olsen said she has always had a close connection to U of C volleyball, having grown up watching their games, and having played for the Dinos volleyball club when she was younger.
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Daisy Olsen (right, No. 18) rises to block a spike for the Cavaliers during the 2021 season.

Airdrie volleyball player Daisy Olsen has inked her letter of intent to play for the University of Calgary Dinos next year.

The Grade 12 W.H. Croxford High School student-athlete said she is excited to continue her volleyball career at the post-secondary level. The 16-year-old, 5'11" outside hitter currently plays competitive club volleyball for the Calgary Canuck Stuff.

“I didn’t think I’d get to this high of a level so early,” she said of the opportunity to join the U of C next fall.

According to Olsen, she was recruited after sending an email to the Dinos volleyball coach, Christine Biggs, who then arranged for the Airdrie teen to come to the U of C for a campus visit and to meet the players, before offering her the opportunity to sign her LOI for the Dinos.

“I got to spend the day with them, go to classes, practise with them – it was really fun and I really enjoyed it,” Olsen said.

Last year, the Dinos women's volleyball team sported a 9-15 record in the Canada West conference, just failing to make the playoffs. The team currently sports a 2-6 record in the 2021-22 season.

In deciding on where she wanted to pursue her post-secondary athletics, Olsen said she has always had a close connection to U of C volleyball, having grown up watching their games, and having played for a Dinos-affiliated volleyball club when she was younger.

“I’ve always had that connection to the Dinos, which made it so perfect for me,” she said.

Olsen has played volleyball since Grade 6, and noted her favourite thing about the sport is its intensity.

“You have to always think and be aggressive, but also super calm at the same time,” she said, adding her strongest attribute as a player is her ability to stay cool and collected no matter what is happening on the court.

“I don’t freak out when I’m up to serve and it’s 24-23,” she said. “I don’t miss when I’m under pressure.”

Alongside her club commitments, Olsen was a key member of the W.H. Croxford Cavaliers senior girls’ team, who enjoyed their best season in the program’s history in 2021.

With Olsen at the net, the Cavaliers finished second in both the Rocky View Sports Association and at the South Central Zones 3A tournament – just missing out on a berth in the 3A provincial championships in November.

“I didn’t think we were going to be that good, but we were, so I was pleasantly surprised,” said Olsen of her swansong campaign with the Cavaliers. “I was really happy with how we played together. The end result was a bonus. The team was so fun to play on.”

Jared Fuller, the head coach of that Cavaliers senior girls' volleyball squad, said Olsen was a “quiet but confident leader” on his team this past fall.

“She is the ultimate team player and leads by example,” he said, calling the outside hitter a “level-headed athlete” who never gets down on herself or her teammates. 

“She was named an all-star in the Rocky View league and was runner-up in MVP voting by a narrow margin. Croxford girls’ volleyball should be in good shape for the next few years, but her impact will not be forgotten. She stood out on a very deep team and we wish her great success in the future.”

According to Olsen, the club volleyball season is in full swing at the moment. Other than her club games and practices, she said she is preparing to join the Dinos next summer by keeping in shape and working out regularly.

She added she’s also playing for the Cavaliers senior girls’ basketball team this winter.

“That goes well with volleyball because I get a lot of cardio in,” she said.

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