Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – It would seem like a huge challenge to be asked pre-game to switch positions for an evening.
Like last Saturday when Griffins middle Sarah McGee was asked to cover an injury and switch to right side for the short-handed MacEwan women's volleyball team against Mount Royal University.
The NAVC and Blessed Oscar Romero product just took it all in stride, though.
She's been changing positions and sports all her life.
"I played hockey for 10 years," said McGee. "I wanted to be the first girl to ever play in the NHL when I was little. I played boys hockey for nine years (with KC Hockey), then I switched over to girls the last year."
That also included a spring playing girls AAA hockey in Sherwood Park.
But her sporting pursuits also included (in no particular order): basketball, badminton, soccer and pole vault.
Yes, pole vault – a unique sport she first tried in Grade 11.
"We were at the track and field meet and they were having open pole vault practice/tryouts," she explained. "I got third place the first time I ever did it. The following year I just decided to do it again and made it to provincials. I went to a few clinics that were being held at U of A and I went to provincials and got fourth, which was fun."
Even more training for switching gears at the drop of a hat – she went to the 2017 Canadian Improv Games.
Volleyball, however, became her main pursuit the summer before Grade 12 when she made NAVC and Team Alberta.
Now a starter with the Griffins, McGee is set to return to her regular position in the middle as she leads them into a pair of home matches vs. Calgary on Friday (6 p.m.) and Saturday (5 p.m., David Atkinson Gym, Canada West TV presented by Co-op).
Sarah McGee, centre, celebrates a point with teammate Payton Shimoda, left ,during a game earlier this season, while Danielle Jodoin (10) looks on (Robert Antoniuk photo).
"Right now, we need her in the middle and that's the plan," said MacEwan head coach Ken Briggs. "I wouldn't want to change that. It's just on that weekend we were desperate. We were on Plan C at that time.
"The biggest reason a lot of middles transition to right side is they're good blockers. That was a big thing for us, to put a block there. Plus, she's a good attacker."
McGee called the experience fun because it was a challenge that needed to be conquered.
"It was my first time ever (playing right side)," she said. "I was really excited to block Madi Marshall, who is a really good left side on MRU. It was exciting to do something different.
"It was just an opportunity to go out there and think about having fun rather than focusing on all the little technical stuff of being a middle."
Still, that's a big reason why she's starting for the Griffins – her ability to grasp the crucial middle position.
"She's stepped in this year right from the beginning," said Briggs. "Having her and Dana (Dunbar) is the strongest part of our game. Sarah's done so much of this on her own. Her initiative and work ethic have brought her to a top level quickly.
"It's on the job training right now because her and Dana are carrying us in the middle. It's big shoes to fill, but in our league, that's such a demanding position. It's not the offensive numbers, it's what they do blocking and defending."
McGee initially had no thoughts about playing post-secondary volleyball until her U17 Team Alberta teammates started talking about where they were going.
"I heard all the girls were getting recruited for post-secondary and I thought that was something I'd like to do, so Ken (Briggs, who was working with that U17 squad) helped me out, trying to get me recruited to some ACAC schools. I went to Lakeland and they offered me a spot, but I really wanted to play U SPORTS because I wanted another challenge."
That led to some e-mails to various schools and a recruiting visit to Calgary, but eventually McGee just took the 2018-19 season – her first out of high school – off to work and play club volleyball.
Midway through that season, MacEwan's injury situation left them depleted in the middle and Briggs knew of one player just kicking around Edmonton without a spot to play. McGee was intrigued by the offer to play at the same school her uncle Peter Stack used to play volleyball for.
"(Ken) asked me to come for a few practices, so I came and filled in for a bit, which was a super intimidating experience," she said. "It was pretty fun, though, and after a while, he just offered me a spot on the team and I took it."
Sarah McGee leads the Griffins in blocks so far this season (24) and is second on the team in kills (41) from her middle blocker position (Robert Antoniuk photo).
That led to red-shirting the 2019-20 season, gaining huge strides in her development by training with and against two of the top middles in U SPORTS that season – Haley Gilfillan and Mckenna Stevenson.
"They are so talented and they had a lot of advice, and they're both super great people on and off the court," said McGee. "It definitely helped get used to the culture being around them and they're both super hard working. Just watching them was something that not every athlete gets to do – especially my first year having them as references for what I could be in a few years if I just put in the work. It was very motivating."
Suddenly, when COVID shut down the 2020-21 season, MacEwan graduated its entire veteran core and rookies – even if they were redshirts – were thrust into prominent roles on the 2021-22 squad. So, that's why McGee is only in her first season of university eligibility even though it's her fourth year out of high school.
And she's a leader for a young team.
"This is a girl who pitches in everywhere," said Briggs. "She's our representative on the Student Athlete council, and her and Dana take care of our Instagram account. She's worked so hard off the court to bring this team together. She's the one who offers rides, she's the one who reaches out to people, takes them out to lunch, makes sure they're not alone. She's taken on a huge role and that's transferred onto the court, too."
What a transition – from rookie to veteran overnight.
"It was such a big switch from being in my first year and being the little rookie to now I'm a veteran player who's starting every game," said McGee. "It's definitely a big switch from being a follower to being a leader now, but I think I've adapted to it pretty well."
And she has her parents Brian and Rose-marie to thank.
"My parents have always been so supportive," she said. "They wanted me to try everything. They've been so supportive and such great influences, who I am as a leader, who I am on and off the court and just my work ethic is pretty much all because of them. They've been amazing."
