OTTAWA (CIS) – Canadian Interuniversity Sport, in conjunction with Water Polo Canada, announced Friday the Canadian women’s water polo roster for the 2015 Summer Universiade in Gwangju, South Korea (July 3-14).
Gwangju 2015 website: www.gwangju2015.com
Team Canada website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/universiade/summer/2015/index
The squad features four returning members from the 2013 Universiade team which narrowly missed out on the podium in Kazan, Russia, where Canada finished fourth for the second time in three appearances since women’s water polo was added to the FISU Games program. The Canucks had also placed fourth in 2009 in Belgrade, Serbia, before settling for sixth in 2011 in Shenzhen, China.
In Gwangju, the 10-team tournament is set to get underway on July 2 and will culminate on July 13 with the gold-medal final. Canada will compete in Pool B in the preliminary round against Serbia, Japan, reigning titlist Russia and two-time champion China.
Returning from the 2013 team are Elyse Lemay-Lavoie of Montreal, Taylor Molde of Weyburn, Sask., Gurpreet Sohi of Delta, B.C., and Alexa Tielmann of Abbotsford. B.C.
Nicola Colterjohn of Hamilton and Kelsey Jensen of Weyburn will be the Canadian goalkeepers in Gwangju.
Rounding out the red and white roster are sisters Axelle and Roxane Crevier of Montreal, Kyra Christmas of High River, Alta., Kelly Matthews of Roxboro, Que., Hayley McKelvey of Vancouver, Sarah Meyers of Toronto and Kindred Paul of Spruce Grove, Alta.
Three alternates were also selected, including Auriel Bill of Estevan, Sask., Molly Demers of Montreal and Kelly McKee of Calgary, a member of the 2013 FISU squad.
David Paradelo of Montreal, head coach of CAMO’s women’s team, will lead the Canadians in South Korea after experiencing success on the international stage with the under-18 age group. Angela Johnson of Cranbrook, B.C., will serve as assistant coach, while team manager Catherine Lamothe of Gatineau, Que., returns to her second straight Universiade.
Niki Van Vugt of Toronto rounds out the support staff as the team videographer.
“It was difficult to finalize a roster as there are so many talented Water Polo athletes in Canada, said Paradelo. “Now that this selection process is done, we have a short timeline to prepare for FISU Universiade. The most important thing will be to learn to play together as fast as we can and with the experience and skills that these young women have, I have no doubt that we will develop our team game in no time. We are looking forward to succeed at these University Games.”
TEAM CANADA ROSTER
Name School Hometown
Kyra Christmas Pacific University High River, Alta.
Nicola Colterjohn (G) McMaster University Hamilton, Ont.
Axelle Crevier Saint-Laurent College Montreal, Que.
Roxane Crevier Maisonneuve College Montreal, Que.
Kelsey Jensen (G) University of Regina Weyburn, Sask.
Elyse Lemay-Lavoie Maisonneuve College Montreal, Que.
Kelly Matthews Indiana University Roxboro, Que.
Hayley McKelvey U of Southern California Vancouver, B.C.
Sarah Meyers Indiana University Toronto, Ont.
Taylor Molde University of Hawaii Weyburn, Sask.
Kindred Paul U of California, Berkeley Spruce Grove, Alta.
Gurpreet Sohi Stanford University Delta, B.C.
Alexa Tielmann UCLA Abbotsford, B.C.
ALTERNATES
Auriel Bill University of Regina Estevan, Sask.
Molly Demers Rosemont College Montreal, Que.
Kelly McKee U of California, Berkeley Calgary, Alta.
STAFF
Position Name Hometown
Head Coach David Paradelo Montreal, Que.
Assistant Coach Angela Johnson Cranbrook, B.C.
Team Leader / Physio Catherine Lamothe Gatineau, Que.
Videographer Niki Van Vugt Toronto, Ont.
2015 UNIVERSIADE DRAW & TEAM CANADA SCHEDULE (all times LOCAL):
Pool A: Russia, CANADA, China, Japan, Serbia
Pool B: Hungary, Italy, Australia, USA, France
July 2 (10:30): Canada vs. Serbia
July 3 (13:30): Canada vs. Russia
July 6 (10:30): Canada vs. China
July 7 (17:00): Canada vs. Japan
July 9 (TBD): Quarter-finals
July 11 (TBD): Semifinals
July 13 (18:00): Bronze
July 13 (19:30): Final
CANADA’S ALL-TIME UNIVERSIADE RESULTS IN WOMEN’S WATER POLO:
2013 (Kazan, Russia): 4th / 8 teams
2011 (Shenzhen, China): 6th / 9
2009 (Belgrade, Serbia): 4th / 8
About the Summer Universiade
The Summer Universiade is an international multi-sport event that takes place every two years and is second only to the Olympic Games in the number of participating athletes and countries. The Universiade is open to competitors who are at least 17 and less than 28 years of age as of January 1 in the year of the Games. Participants must be full-time students at a post-secondary institution (university, college, CEGEP) or have graduated from a post-secondary institution in the year preceding the event.