In addition to being named her team’s rookie of the year, she earned a berth on the conference all-rookie team after a solid freshman season.
Ross came to Acadia in the fall of 2013 as what Acadia head coach Michelle Wood described at the time as “a highlight player.” A five-foot-eleven outside hitter – a role key to the team’s offence - she had starred for both Greenwood College School in Toronto and the Leaside Volleyball Club.
Ross said Wood was a big reason she decided to attend Acadia.
“I’d heard of her from when she played at the (University of Toronto), and I’d heard great things about her as a coach. I could see she wanted what I wanted, to be part of a program that was getting stronger, and would give me a chance to play.”
On Ross’s recruiting trip, “Michelle made sure I was part of a lot of different activities, which made it a more personal visit for me.”
Love of the game
Ross, 19, started playing school volleyball when she was in Grade 5, and got really serious about it when she began playing club volleyball in Grade 8.
“I had always been a left side hitter. In my senior year of high school, I switched to the right side, both in school and club, she said. “(At Acadia), I’ve played both sides, but I prefer the left side, which is also where Michelle wants me.”
The role means Ross is covering the front left side of the court, making her one of the main passers and a go-to hitter.
She believes the Axewomen, which are improving by the game, “are very much in the playoff hunt.” And once they make the playoffs, “I feel we have the team, and the potential, to win it all.”
Steadily improving
Ross was happy with her first year at Acadia, although it was admittedly a bit overwhelming at first.
“I was disappointed the team didn’t do as well as we could have, but we all agreed to put it down to a development year,” she said.
This season “has had a different feel,” she says. The Axewomen are far more competitive, even in the matches they haven’t won.
Ross has been a part of that. She is among the conference leaders in kills (eighth), kills per set (second), hitting percentage (seventh, just behind teammate Marissa Chin) and points (eighth), which has her in first-team all-star territory.
Wood, she said, “has set a precedent for what she wants for us, and has set the bar higher than last year.”
And the Axewomen are responding, Ross added.
“The team has already risen above even what she expected,” Ross said.
“(Wood’s) energy level helps everyone become better. She’s changed the way we view ourselves, every time we play. We have the feel of more of a top-calibre team.”
Asked if she believes the Axewomen have turned the corner as a program, she said, “absolutely, 100 per cent. It’s onward and upward from here.”
Similarly, Ross said she “can see a difference in the league this year – there’s less of a gap between the top teams and the rest.”
At Acadia
As for life at Acadia as a whole, Ross is very satisfied with her experience so far.
“It’s been far better than I thought it would be. I love the whole experience, and my teammates are my best friends. We’ve progressed a lot over the last year, and we will continue to improve,” she said.
She also enjoys the small school atmosphere.
“I like how the AD (athletics director Kevin Dickie) comes and speaks to us after games. I like it that the president of the university can call you by your first name,” she said.
Ross is studying toward a bachelor of arts in environmental sustainability, with a minor in sociology.
“I’m really interested in potentially working abroad, promoting sustainability in a healthy way” in countries where that might make a difference, she said.
At present, she is taking a four-year degree, but isn’t ruling out any options.
“I could easily stay for a fifth year to play volleyball,” she added.
In addition to being named her team’s rookie of the year, she earned a berth on the conference all-rookie team after a solid freshman season.
Ross came to Acadia in the fall of 2013 as what Acadia head coach Michelle Wood described at the time as “a highlight player.” A five-foot-eleven outside hitter – a role key to the team’s offence - she had starred for both Greenwood College School in Toronto and the Leaside Volleyball Club.
Ross said Wood was a big reason she decided to attend Acadia.
“I’d heard of her from when she played at the (University of Toronto), and I’d heard great things about her as a coach. I could see she wanted what I wanted, to be part of a program that was getting stronger, and would give me a chance to play.”
On Ross’s recruiting trip, “Michelle made sure I was part of a lot of different activities, which made it a more personal visit for me.”
Love of the game
Ross, 19, started playing school volleyball when she was in Grade 5, and got really serious about it when she began playing club volleyball in Grade 8.
“I had always been a left side hitter. In my senior year of high school, I switched to the right side, both in school and club, she said. “(At Acadia), I’ve played both sides, but I prefer the left side, which is also where Michelle wants me.”
The role means Ross is covering the front left side of the court, making her one of the main passers and a go-to hitter.
She believes the Axewomen, which are improving by the game, “are very much in the playoff hunt.” And once they make the playoffs, “I feel we have the team, and the potential, to win it all.”
Steadily improving
Ross was happy with her first year at Acadia, although it was admittedly a bit overwhelming at first.
“I was disappointed the team didn’t do as well as we could have, but we all agreed to put it down to a development year,” she said.
This season “has had a different feel,” she says. The Axewomen are far more competitive, even in the matches they haven’t won.
Ross has been a part of that. She is among the conference leaders in kills (eighth), kills per set (second), hitting percentage (seventh, just behind teammate Marissa Chin) and points (eighth), which has her in first-team all-star territory.
Wood, she said, “has set a precedent for what she wants for us, and has set the bar higher than last year.”
And the Axewomen are responding, Ross added.
“The team has already risen above even what she expected,” Ross said.
“(Wood’s) energy level helps everyone become better. She’s changed the way we view ourselves, every time we play. We have the feel of more of a top-calibre team.”
Asked if she believes the Axewomen have turned the corner as a program, she said, “absolutely, 100 per cent. It’s onward and upward from here.”
Similarly, Ross said she “can see a difference in the league this year – there’s less of a gap between the top teams and the rest.”
At Acadia
As for life at Acadia as a whole, Ross is very satisfied with her experience so far.
“It’s been far better than I thought it would be. I love the whole experience, and my teammates are my best friends. We’ve progressed a lot over the last year, and we will continue to improve,” she said.
She also enjoys the small school atmosphere.
“I like how the AD (athletics director Kevin Dickie) comes and speaks to us after games. I like it that the president of the university can call you by your first name,” she said.
Ross is studying toward a bachelor of arts in environmental sustainability, with a minor in sociology.
“I’m really interested in potentially working abroad, promoting sustainability in a healthy way” in countries where that might make a difference, she said.
At present, she is taking a four-year degree, but isn’t ruling out any options.
“I could easily stay for a fifth year to play volleyball,” she added.
