See How She Got Started in the OUA

Anchored in the efforts to spotlight Ontario University Athletics (OUA) student-athletes, the initiative See How She Got Started showcases and tells the story of how some of the conference’s talented student-athletes first got involved in sport and have made their way to the varsity stage on which they currently shine.  It is also hoped that their stories can inspire young athletes to aspire to compete in varsity-level sports.

 

 

Meet OUA Student-Athlete Isabelle Pellerine

University - 

Trent University

 

Sport -

Volleyball

 

Year of Eligibility -

2nd Year

 

Hometown - 

Halifax, Nova Scotia 

 

Program of Study - 

Kinesiology 

 

 

How did you first get involved in your sport?

I first got involved playing volleyball in grade 1 when the coaches at my school held a program called “baby bumpers”. I did that for my entire time in elementary school until I eventually started playing for a club. 

 

What most interested you about your sport that made you want to pursue it at a high level?

What interested me is that student-athlete lifestyle. Seeing older athletes playing competitively at high levels and admiring their talents and commitment. I knew I wanted to do that when I grew up.   

 

Was there a specific moment/experience that led you to believe you could compete in your sport at a high level, and if so, what was it?

I first believed I could play at a high level when I moved to Virginia and I was offered a spot to play an age group up. All my other teammates started recruiting processes and eventually that led to me starting as well.   

 

What is your fondest memory/experience of being involved in your sport thus far?

One of my fondest memories is playing for Grassfield High School in the 10th grade and winning a game that sent us to semi-finals. I loved all my teammates and that whole year was one to remember.   

 

 

Is there someone who inspires you to continue to pursue your sport at this high level (i.e., coach, professional athlete, family member, etc.) and what makes them an inspiration to you?

Someone that inspires me to continue playing is my Dad. He had always been my coach when I played hockey and inspired me daily. But on the volleyball side of things, he would come with me to out-of-state tournaments and helped me majorly in my recruiting process. A reason I continue to play because of the effort he put in to get me here.  

 

What excites you most about continuing your athletic journey at the varsity level within the OUA?

I am excited to continue my athletic career in the OUA because of the high level volleyball it brings. I am also excited to hopefully lead Trent University into some more wins and to grow as a team each year.  

 

What is/are some of the more unique aspect(s) of your sport that others may not know about? 

Something unique about volleyball is that it is as much as a team sport as it is an individual sport. We work off of each other.  Being a setter carries a lot on my shoulders but I know that my team can back me up at any moment. Obviously individual talent and skill matters too, but, if we put all of us together, we can become one seamless group.     

 

If someone else was looking to start playing your sport, what one piece of advice would you give them to get them started?

I would tell that person to know that it’s okay to hit roadblocks and that the game won't always come easily to you. Put in the work behind the scenes and your results will show in the game. 

 

 

What is one critical thing that you do to try to continue to experience improvement within your sport (i.e., specific drill/exercise, training regimen, routine, etc.)?

Recently, I’ve been big on mental toughness and training. Volleyball is an easy sport to get down on yourself quickly. So being mentally tough is a key part in the game. Doing exercises before practices and games like visualizations or writing down goals are one way to improve this.  

 

What would you say to your 10-year-old self about playing and staying in sport?

I would want to thank my 10-year-old self for deciding to keep playing volleyball instead of quitting to play hockey.     

 

Is there one strategy that you find works well for you in creating a positive student/athlete balance in your life?

One thing that works well for me is when I walk into the gym, I’m in athlete mode and all other thoughts go out the window. It’s the one place when I can truly only think about one thing at once so I take advantage of that. When doing school work, I try my best to leave volleyball out of my mind as well so I don't get too overwhelmed.  

 

SeeWhatSheCanDo

Head to the SWSCD Athlete Advisor, your online athletic business directory. Find, rate and review programs, local community offerings and businesses that will help you do your thing.  

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Have a sport, recreation or physical activity accomplishment you'd like to celebrate and shout out through SWSCD?  Become a SWSCD member and share your story directly on SeeWhatSheCanDo. Or, simply add the hashtag #seewhatshecando to your public social media posts and SWSCD can help you inspire others around you.