Wednesday, February 22, 2017
by Simon Fraser Athletic Communications

RICHMOND, B.C. – Volleyball Canada has named Simon Fraser University women’s volleyball coach Gina Schmidt the new head coach of the Canadian national senior “B” women’s team for the 2017 season.
 
"We are thrilled with the coaching staff we have assembled for our women’s program," said Julien Boucher, Volleyball Canada’s High Performance Director. "These coaches bring a wealth of experience to our program and will be a great support for our head coach, Marcello Abbondanza."
 
Joining Abbondanza at the new women’s national team base in Richmond, B.C., will be Schmidt and two assistant coaches, Vincenzo Mallia and Daniele Alpi.
 
The “B” team is an extension of the senior national team program and Schmidt will be responsible for training the players who do not travel to official competitions. Among other competitions, the women’s senior team will compete in 2017 FIVB Women’s Grand Prix, which includes games in Richmond, July 21 to 23.
 
”I had the chance to work with the national team last summer at the World Grand Prix and this is another great opportunity to be involved with the sport at the highest level in our country,” said Schmidt. “I look forward to using my experience as both a coach and former player to compliment the new vision Marcello has for the future of the Canadian program.”
 
Schmidt, a native of Beaverlodge, Alta., led Simon Fraser to a 21-8 record this year and the program’s first-ever berth in the NCAA Division II national playoff. Simon Fraser is Canada’s only NCAA team and the Clan has shown steady progress in Schmidt’s four years as head coach. She has compiled an overall record of 64-43. The Clan’s record was 11-13 in Schmidt’s first season, 17-9 in 2014, 15-13 in 2015 and 21-8 this season.
 
One of Schmidt’s first recruits was Port Moody’s Alison McKay, who has been with the national program for two seasons. McKay was two-time Great Northwest Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a 2016 AVCA Division II Third-Team All-American and 2016 D2CCA Honourable Mention All-American, a first for the SFU Clan volleyball program.
 
Schmidt is a former Canadian national team member (1998 to 2007), and was the top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Montana prior to joining SFU in 2013.