Abby Sauder. (Photo courtesy Kodiaks Athletics, Lethbridge College)

By Justin Goulet

Saskatchewan’s Abby Sauder joins Kodiaks women’s volleyball team

Aug 9, 2021 | 11:27 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Lethbridge College Kodiaks have added a Saskatchewan product to the women’s volleyball roster.

Abby Sauder joins the team from the Swift Current Comprehensive High School. The left-side will hit the court with the Kodiaks after exclusively training with Team Saskatchewan this summer.

Kodiaks coach Anna Schwark said, “she is a very talented volleyball player and at this level it is difficult to come by an athlete with her height that hasn’t ben forced into the middle position all her life.”

“I am really looking forward to seeing her in September after training with Team Saskatchewan, since she will be coming in just having had some fantastic coaching and a lot of quality training opportunities.”

The coach believes Sauder will be able to “jump right in and push our returning athletes in the outside hitter position, as she takes ger training very seriously and works really hard to always be improving.”

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“Skill-wise, Abby is great. She has got the timing down on faster-paced offence and is a very reliable serve receiver and defender. I really think in a few years Abby will be a knockout outside hitter and that she will be able to go head-to-head with the best in the league.”

Sauder says she has heard some great things about the Kodiaks and knows a few of the players on the men’s volleyball team.

“I know they have a really good Nursing program, so I was really excited because I’ve heard from all the nurses [in Swift Current] that the beast nurses come from Lethbridge, and so academically I think it was also my best choice.”

She’s exited to play at the post-secondary level, noting her conversations with coach Schwark have been really good.

“She sounds like a really great coach and I’m super excited to play for her. She told me where she sees me on the team, and it sound like it’s just going to be a perfect fit for me.”

With limited opportunities for training available to Sauder, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she was forced to make a drastic move in her Grade 12 year to make sure she could continue to train at a high level.

She explained that, “we didn’t get to practice very much in Swift Current, and I actually had to go train with the team in Regina.”

“I had to move for the second semester of my Grade 12 year and take online classes, which was pretty tough, so that was a big challenge. But it was a good opportunity for me and the best one I could get with the circumstances.”

Sauder said she can’t wait to get set up in Lethbridge and start a new chapter with the Kodiaks.

“I’m really looking forward to getting to know the girls and just being able to play a high-level game with a bunch of new people, developing my skills more and having a good time.”

The women’s volleyball team starts its season on Friday, November 12 at home against Red Deer College.