Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – The rich history of the libero position at MacEwan includes CCAA all-stars, conference award winners and a Canada West record holder, not to mention many others who were the lifeblood of the team's defence.
The latest addition to head coach Chris Wandler's 2024-25 recruiting class figures to continue the tradition of strong players at the position as libero Kaitlin Rolph will join Strathcona teammate and previously-announced recruit, setter Katelyn Hennessy, on the Griffins in the fall.
"They're very familiar with each other," he said of the friends who were also teammates with NAVC in club and on Team Alberta in 2023. "Kaitlin Rolph is a libero with amazing ball control. She's 5-10, so she takes up a lot more space and area than maybe a smaller libero. So, that was something we wanted to look for.
"Her first contact is really going to help us short and long term in the program. We're excited to have her."
Rolph was a member of Team Alberta's U17 team that won a Tier 2 championship silver medal at the Canada Cup last summer. She also helped Strathcona make the city Div. 1 semifinals and finish eighth at the 2023 4A Alberta high school volleyball championship.
"Kaitlin brings some quiet confidence," said Wandler. "She has a high volleyball IQ, she's great on the first contact and defending, she takes up a lot of floor space. She's very efficient at her job.
"We're looking forward to seeing how much space we can give her and how much responsibility. It might be a little less to start off with and then as she grows with some confidence and with teammates, we'll give her a little more space."
That first pass to the setter will be important as Rolph and Hennessy grow in their Griffins careers, as they've already had hundreds and hundreds of reps together, already showing innate chemistry on the court.
"I think it's going to be important, especially going down the road – spending another five years together," said Wandler. "There's definitely that connection, that synergy together that can help the program."
