Alyssa Patterson has taken a step forward in her volleyball career after signing a recruitment deal to play for the Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) Blazers next year.
The Hapnot student was the team’s first player to commit for the upcoming season, joining a team that finished atop the five-team Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC) with a 12-4 record, winning a whopping 39 sets throughout the season.
A three-year starter with the Hapnot senior Kweens volleyball squad, Patterson has earned praise for her grit and ability not just on the volleyball court, but in basketball, track and field and soccer. In volleyball, Patterson was invited to Manitoba provincial team tryouts in each of the last three years, finding a spot on the team’s practice roster in 2017 and 2018.
“Alyssa was a real positive influence on the Hapnot team, always leading by example,” Tim Wiebe, Hapnot volleyball coach, said in a press release issued by CMU.
“She was always the hardest worker in the gym, she never took a practice off and she left everything on the floor every game. I think this is a testament to the kind of person Alyssa is. She is driven, hard working, ultra competitive and has a real passion for the game of volleyball.”
Patterson is just the latest Hapnot athlete to follow the footsteps of other former Kings and Kweens by joining the CMU athletic program after graduation. Basketball player Sam Kinsley and soccer stars Ben and Janelle Wride each travelled south to play for the Blazers after graduating.
Another Hapnot grad, Becca Krahn, played for the school’s volleyball team.
Patterson has at least one undisputable ally – her mother, Keely.
“It’s such a great school and it has such a great athletics program,” Keely said.
“I used to say to her, ‘Keep trying, just keep trying,’ but being so far in the north and everything going on in the south, she definitely was tempted to give it up a time or two. But it’s really exciting.”
Patterson may pursue being a two-sport athlete with the Blazers this year, possibly trying out with the school’s soccer team at a later date.
