Women’s volleyball a family affair at UNB Saint John

Like the Sedin twins who play for the Vancouver Canucks, it is unusual to see siblings contributing to the same team.

The women’s volleyball team at UNB Saint John is one of those rare exceptions.

The UNB Saint John Seawolves have picked up a key player heading into the mid-season.  First year transfer student Emile Fitzpatrick, who plays the dynamic, defensive libero position, joins her sisters Megan and Sarah on a young Seawolves volleyball team.

A graduate of Louis J. Robichaud High School in Shediac, New Brunswick, and currently a first year arts student, Emile felt coming to UNB Saint John was a “better choice overall”

because as she says, she is “able to play on a team with her sisters”.

Her love affair with the game began with backyard boot camps run by her older sister, Megan, when she was in grade four.  She continued to play throughout elementary, middle and high school. Coincidentally, during her journey playing volleyball, Emile played with the Seawolves middle and second year Seawolf Katherine Houser in grade eight.

Excited to now be a Seawolf, along with sisters Megan, the team captain, and Sarah, the team manager, Emile brings vast experience in the sport having won provincials last year with the Bleu et Or club team.  Her presence will certainly contribute to the team securing a playoff seed in the second half of the season.

“She’s very encouraging and makes me feel very comfortable because I’m new to the school and the team,” says Emile about her sister and teammate.

Megan feels that, even though her and Emile have never played on the same team, they can “help each other on the court because it’s easy to communicate with her sister”.

From a player’s perspective, Megan feels Emile is “really talented and she can go far in this league”.  As a fourth year player, Megan is excited to “watch her get better and improve” alongside where she has spent her varsity career.