Alta Newspaper Group
It is not often a rookie university volleyball player cracks the starting lineup in their first year.
But Bow Island’s Chris Byam jumped right in during in his first semester with the Mount Royal University Cougars men’s volleyball team in Calgary.
“Definitely a big accomplishment for me,” said Byam, a 6-foot-6 outside hitter.
“Everybody works towards that position. It was definitely a huge accomplishment for me to work towards that and hopefully maintain throughout the season.”‘
The former Senator Gershaw stalwart says the biggest adjustment for him from high school to university has been the schedule change with practising every day, working out and school and balancing his time properly.
“It was definitely a big adjustment at the start, just getting in the different swing of university and university sport,” said Byam.
“But once I got into it, it was really enjoyable and really just having lots of fun with the guys.”
Byam returned from a back injury this semester and put up personal season highs with 26 kills, two aces and seven digs in Saturday’s five-set win over Saskatchewan. Now 8-12 and eighth place in the Canada West conference, the Cougars are currently in a playoff position with two matches left to play.
Byam admits through the first few games it was hit-and-miss with jitters, but once he got through that stage he settled in pretty well and played volleyball.
“Going from a smaller town volleyball setup to this, is definitely a huge adjustment… a bunch of big, physical guys every day, but you learn to adjust to it and it becomes second nature I guess,” said Byam.
He has concentrated on becoming a more offensive server, along with defensive work and passing.
