The
Pandas Volleyball program has announced the five newest members of the program, who are set to make their UofA debuts in the fall.
Four of the five recruits are Alberta products, with a pair joining the varsity program out of the
Pandas Volleyball Club.
Emma Holmes joins the program after spending two seasons with Red Deer College. In most recent action, Emma was top-5 in ACAC with 3.09 kills/set and 315.5 overall points as an outside hitter.
Middle Lana Pralica and outside hitter Sona Sajeev also join the program having spent their high school careers down 111st street with the Harry Ainlay Titans. Both student-athletes also competed with the Pandas Volleyball Club.
The Pandas also added some silky hands to the roster with the addition of setter Justine Kolody from Winnipeg. In 2019, Justine led the Shock Volleyball Club team to a National Championship and won gold at the Western Canada Summer Games.
6-1Â Middle Meghan John also joins the program having recently competed with the Canuck Volleyball Club and attending William Aberhart.Â
"The Pandas are excited to welcome our five new members for 2021. It is a diverse group of athletes who will positively impact our training and competitive environment. The new season can't start soon enough as we look forward to returning to action together!" - Head Coach Laurie Eisler
Position: Outside Hitter
Hometown: Red Deer, AB
Previous Team: Red Deer College Queens
Faculty: Kinesiology, Sport, & Recreation
Quote from Head Coach Laurie Eisler
"Emma is a very experienced recruit having spent the last three seasons competing for the Red Deer College Queens in the ACAC. In two competitive seasons, Emma accumulated a massive 471 total kills and was a top outside in the league. Emma is an extremely driven and competitive athlete that we are very excited to see compete at the next level."
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Position: Setter
Hometown: Â Winnipeg, Manitoba
Previous Team: Shock Volleyball Club
Faculty: Kinesiology, Sport, & Recreation
Quote from Head Coach Laurie Eisler
"Justine brings with her a wealth of competitive experience and success; she won a national championship with her club team in 2019, won gold at Western Canada Summer Games with Team Manitoba that same year, and was a member of the Youth National team this past summer. One thing that really excites us about Justine beyond her being an outstanding volleyball player is her competitive intensity and her drive to learn and get better. Her future is very bright and we are thrilled that she chose our program to be her home for the next five years! "
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Position: Middle
Hometown: Â Calgary, AB
Previous Team: William Aberhart/ Canuck Volleyball Club
Faculty: Kinesiology/Education Combined Degree
Quote from Head Coach Laurie Eisler
"Meghan is an extremely physically gifted athlete that brings a ton of offensive firepower to the middle position. At 6-1 and touching well over 10 feet, Meghan is an athlete that will be a strong presence at the net and we are excited to see her develop over the next few years. She is a competitor that is willing to do whatever is necessary to take her game to the next level and we can't wait to work with her come September."
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Position: Middle
Hometown: Edmonton, AB
Previous Team: Harry Ainlay / Pandas Volleyball Club
Faculty: Arts
Quote from Head Coach Laurie Eisler
"A product of the Pandas Volleyball Club, Lana is someone that we have had our eye on from a very young age and she has developed into one of the top middles in her age group in the country. Lana brings a physical presence to our team standing at 6-2 with a 6-5 wingspan and is a fierce competitor. Lana is someone we believe can make a strong impact at the U SPORTS level and we are excited for her to join us in September."
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Position: Outside Hitter
Hometown: Edmonton, AB
Previous Team: Harry Ainlay / Pandas Volleyball Club
Faculty: Engineering
Quote from Head Coach Laurie Eisler
"Sona is a gifted physical athlete who is fast and jumps incredibly well. She has recently transitioned from the middle to the outside and we really feel that the sky is the limit for her in that position. Sona brings with her an infectious personality and a work ethic that is unmatched. We can't wait to have her in the gym with us! "
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