A former MVP Foothills Falcons volleyball player should get herself a new travel agent. She is trying to get to London, England via Langley, B.C., Winnipeg and Tijuana.
Kelci French, a 2008 graduate of Foothills Composite High School, is a setter with Team Canada which played in an Olympic Women’s Volleyball tournament in Tijuana, Mexico April 29-May 5.
The call to represent her country in Mexico came out of nowhere for French.
“I was at Trinity Western (in Langley) getting ready for exams and I got a call in March telling me that Team Canada needed a setter,” the 22-year-old French said. “Playing in the Olympics has always been a dream of mine but I didn’t think it would come this quickly. My aim was for 2016 (in Rio de Janeiro), which was my realistic goal. This is like a bonus, a bit of surprise but something I fully embrace and am excited about.”
However, when you dream suddenly winds up on your doorstep, it means you have to do a lot of rearranging with your timetable.
“I got all of my exams switched for the end of the year and I was able to write my last two exams in Winnipeg (home of Team Canada),” French said.
Foothills volleyball fans will remember French as being the big hitter for the Falcons four years ago.
“Being a setter is where my heart is, but sometimes you have to play where your team needs you and that’s what happened at Foothills,” French said while waiting for a plane out of the ’Peg airport. “Now my job is full-time setting and I love it… playing in Foothills helped me because you learn different things with every experience you have.”
French and Team Canada have some work to do before they can schedule planning to see the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace. Only 12 women’s volleyball teams qualify for the Summer Olympics. Canada is currently the 22nd ranked-team in the world. However, if they win the tournament in Tijuana this week, they are in.
“This is my first time travelling with the A-team so I don’t know fully what to expect,” French said. “But I expect us to do well and play as a team. I think we have what it takes.”
Team Canada is ranked fourth in the Olympic qualifying tournament behind Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
Team Canada head coach Scott Koskie said French will see some time on the court in Tijuana despite it being her first international tournament with the A team.
“One of the first things that stands out with Kelci she is a real battler,” said Koskie.
“She is left-handed so she has been able to make herself an offensive threat.
“From the setting position, she is really good at hitting the second ball which you don’t see very much in both men’s and women’s ball. She is always looking for ways to score her points, which helps take some of the pressure of the attackers.”
French is the no. 2 setter on Team Canada behind Jacyln Ellis from Ontario.
“There will be moments in every set where we will make some situational changes to utilize her strengths — her serving, defending - things like that,” Koskie said.
Team Canada lost their first two matches in Tijuana, to Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. Team Canada had to beat Honduras on May 1 to advance to the playoffs.
