Kodiaks women’s volleyball signs Calgary setter

The Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks women’s volleyball team is excited to announce the commitment of Aylah Vanderwerff. 

Vanderwerff, a setter from Calgary, recently wrapped up her club volleyball season with the YYC Eagles. She will graduate from Calgary Christian High School next month, and she will start in the polytechnic’s Criminal Justice – Policing program in the fall.

“I chose to play for the Kodiaks because of the positive and strong team atmosphere,” says Vanderwerff. “The coaching staff is genuinely invested in helping athletes grow on and off the court. I also had my eye on the Criminal Justice – Policing program, which I’ve heard great things about and knew would be a perfect fit for my academic goals.”

She also says the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference is the right fit for her because of the level of competition, the strong athletic programs and the chance to grow as an athlete.

Vanderwerff says she reached out to Kodiaks head coach Anna Schwark who then invited her to practise with the team. Schwark pointed out that her pace and placement when setting is very consistent. Vanderwerff being a left-handed setter is an asset, which was one of several reasons the coaches were eager to see Aylah compete in person.

“As a setter one has to be an effective communicator and I think Aylah communicates with a lot of maturity,” says Schwark. “She has the foundations of a good setter, and I think her ability to connect with her teammates will allow her to meet the expectations of the coaches and our hitters to provide the placement and tempo that we are continually striving for.”

Schwark adds Vanderwerff’s positivity and work ethic will improve everyone around her and that she will help the team maintain the competitive yet positive culture that has been created over the last two seasons.

Vanderwerff says she is most looking forward to growing as an athlete by developing new skills and being part of a close-knit team. On the academic side, she’s excited to start classes and learn more about the area of public safety.