Top Program
The University of Toronto’s women’s volleyball program has achieved enviable success. It is a nationally competitive program that has captured 10 Ontario championship titles and, in 2016, won the national championship, marking the first time since 1976 that an Ontario team won the national banner.
U of T is one of the only universities to integrate beach volleyball and volleyball training. Varsity Blues volleyball players have been very successful at the provincial, national and international beach volleyball levels. Since 1994, over 22 Varsity Blues players have competed for Canada on the FIVB World Tour, at World Beach Championships, at the World University Beach Championships, at the Pan American Games and the Olympic Games. Most recently, Heather Bansley and Kristina Valjas represented Canada at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Top Student-Athletes
The Varsity Blues volleyball program attracts talented athletes who are interested in learning and advancing their game. Many Varsity Blues players have been named to all-Ontario and all-Canadian teams and have represented Canada at international competitions in both indoor and beach volleyball.
Varsity Blues players are exceptional students and outstanding leaders in their community. Many maintain a high academic average while competing. Since 1999 the team has averaged at least four academic all-Canadians (maintaining an “A” average) each year. As well, some Varsity Blues players are actively involved in community activities including volunteer work and student councils. The graduates of the Varsity Blues program have gone on to be physicians, lawyers, police officers, teachers, therapists, social workers, psychologists, engineers, nurses, researchers and other professionals.
The 1968-69 women’s volleyball team dominated university competition in Eastern Canada. Undefeated in regular season play, the 1968-69 Blues continued their winning streak into the playoffs, earning the league championship and the Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Union (WIAU) title. Coached by Marjory Shedd, the team was a dynamic group of outstanding talent, including Lois Kennedy, who was also a member of Canada’s national team. Six of the Blues players competed on the provincial team that won gold at the first Canada Games in 1967. Team members include: Jenny (Karstoff) Stoanka Allen, 1997 Hall of Fame inductee, Julia (Kucharachuk) Andruchiw, Jennifer (English) Fallis, Lida (Syrotynsky) Hoffmann, Lois Kennedy, Ruth (Unger) Morgan, Birgitte Nielsen-Worrall, Lynette (Bibby) Pasma, Luba (Olesnycky) Rabbel (captain), Lydia (Eliashevsky) Replansky, Mari Sagi, Jane (Guenther) Williams and Marjory Shedd (head coach).
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| 2010 U of T Sports Hall of Fame inductee Suzanne Deschamps, MD, (centre), with former Varsity Blues teammates Sandy Skotnicki, MD, (left) and Donna Roach, PhD, (right) |
Top Coaching
The Varsity Blues coaching and support staff has a range of expertise that makes them among the best in the country. Head coach Kristine Drakich leads the women’s Varsity Blues volleyball program and ensures the quality of the staff. Kristine is a NCCP High Performance Coach who has been recognized for her coaching (indoor and beach volleyball) both provincially and nationally. She was a member of Canada's indoor and beach volleyball national teams and has over 10 years of international coaching experience in volleyball and beach volleyball.
Kristine is assisted by Vincenzo Mallia, who came to the Blues after working as an assistant coach with Volleyrò Casal de pazzi in Rome from 2012-14, winning four regional and two national championships. He is also currently an assistant coach with the Canadian women's indoor national team.
Marjory Shedd, a recent inductee to the Varsity Blues Hall of Fame, coached at U of T for 28 years (1964-91) and guided the Blues to seven league gold medals in volleyball, plus five Ontario gold medals and seven silver medals in badminton. Known as “Canada’s Lady of Badminton,” Marj won 44 provincial and 24 national titles, including six consecutive triple crowns. She represented Canada in 6 Uber Cup competitions, including the first International Women’s Uber Cup in 1956-57. She also played on national championships teams in both basketball and volleyball, and represented Canada in volleyball at the 1967 Pan-American Games. Marj was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1970.
