Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – When she graduates from MacEwan later this season, Megan Foxcroft will most likely join an exclusive club by earning her fifth-straight U SPORTS Academic All Canadian honour.
Former women's volleyball outside hitter Lauren Holmes is the only Griffin to ever achieve the feat, although a few other current student-athletes besides Foxcroft are on track to match her, too.
Foxcroft's work in the classroom has clearly been at the forefront of what she has achieved at MacEwan, impressively also becoming a two-time co-winner of the Griffins' Top Academic Award for the Faculty of Arts & Science while still maintaining her status as an elite athlete.
"Academics has always been a huge priority for me," said the Griffins veteran libero. "I make sure that I don't sacrifice my academics for volleyball and the other way around – I don't sacrifice volleyball for academics.
"For me, it came down to time management and organization and I preach that to all the other girls on the team. I'm always there to help them with organizing their schedules, making sure they get stuff done. I think it's important because when you have a focus on both, you're able to fully enjoy and embrace both experiences, rather than being stressed about school and trying to play volleyball at the same time."
Named captain of the Griffins for the 2022-23 season, Foxcroft will lead MacEwan into its home-opening weekend vs. Winnipeg on Friday (6 p.m.) and Saturday (5:30 p.m., both David Atkinson Gym, both Canada West TV).
"I had asked input from each of the athletes as to who they see as a leader, and it was almost unanimous that they've seen Megan's contributions and what she brings to the game," said interim head coach Dusty Freimark on why Foxcroft earned the top leadership honour of the squad this season. "Her communication skills, her dedication to MacEwan Athletics, her dedication to her school, it was almost a no brainer in the sense of who would be a leader on our team."
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— MacEwan Griffins (@MacEwanGriffins) October 20, 2022
Leading by example on the court & in the classroom, @MacEwanU libero Megan Foxcroft will captain Griffins as they head into @CanadaWest @USPORTS_VBall home-opening weekend vs. @Wesmenathletics FRI (6 PM) & SAT (5:30 PM).#GriffNation
STORY➡️https://t.co/RHmKBYVu2w pic.twitter.com/7N2Fdi3qP5
It's actually the first season that a libero is allowed to be a team captain in U SPORTS because they're on and off the floor multiple times during a match. In MacEwan's case, though, Foxcroft will serve as captain and another player on the court will be designated as floor leader when she's on the sidelines.
"It was a huge honour and reward to be named the captain of this team," said Foxcroft. "Being in my fifth year now, it feels like yesterday that I was a first year coming in with a bunch of older girls. So, to have worked my way through this program and gained a leadership role means a lot to me. I'm excited to lead this group of girls through this season."
MacEwan enters the season essentially in Year 2 of a retooling that welcomed 14 first-year players to the fold in 2021-22. They enter the 2022-23 season in a different position, with 13 returning players.
So, what does the next step look like for a team with some experience coming off a one-win season last year?
"Last year was definitely a big challenge," said Foxcroft. "I think it was definitely a character-building season. We kind of went through the worst of the worst. Even though we weren't able to get very many wins last year, every single game was a huge learning experience and to play at this level, experience is huge.
"Now, moving forward, we have that many more girls who have a year of playing U SPORTS volleyball. There's just so much athletic potential on this team, so much skill – probably the most I've seen since I've been on this team. Now, you put together that skill and that experience, I think it makes a great combination to move forward and find some successes this year."
The Griffins featured 14 new players last season, but are entering 2022-23 with a much different outlook behind 13 returners (Robert Antoniuk photo).
They'll be guided by Freimark, who is at the helm in an interim position this season and will make her U SPORTS head coaching debut on Friday.
"I'm excited," said the long-time Jasper Place bench boss and former University of Alberta Pandas player and assistant coach. "I think like any coach, you self-reflect as the season goes along – 'are you doing enough, are you doing what you need to do, are you preparing the athletes to be successful?'
"So, this will be a good test for me as ultimately I'm the captain of the ship, trying to direct us down and get some wins."
