Venezuelan volleyballers will have an impact
The
Julio Fernandez and Joel Garcia, both from
This weekend, they're off to
The V-Reds lost three matches - 3-0 to Laval, the country's top-ranked team, 3-2 to
UNB head coach Dan McMorran started recruiting Fernandez, a six-foot-three left-side hitter, last February. He finally arrived in
"It was a huge challenge in the beginning," Fernandez said, "because I was in a different country learning a new language. My English skills were not good when I arrived in
Garcia went to B.C.'s Thompson Rivers - this year's host of the CIS men's nationals - in November, but didn't like the fit and left the
"I didn't like the atmosphere there," Garcia said. "It didn't work out for me. I looked at it in a positive way and just said 'I wasn't meant to be there.' "
He came to UNB in December after calling Fernandez to check out his situation here. Garcia, 23, respected the opinion of the 20-year-old Fernandez. They were friends and volleyball teammates back home.
"It's a huge advantage that Julio is here," Garcia said. "I've known him since I was 12 years old and I would say he's like a brother to me. We played for the same club at home. The level of play is good there as well. The passion is different (in
"Joel has helped me a lot with my English," Fernandez said, "and playing with him is like playing in
Both players agree their new UNB teammates have made them feel welcome.
"Since I've been working every day with this team I feel pretty much at home," Garcia said. "I like every day more. I work with a great group of guys."
"They are great guys and we have become great friends - like family," Fernandez chimed in.
McMorran says Fernandez is "a fantastic athlete who's going to have an immediate impact on our team."
Fernandez played the first three matches in
"Julio had decent performances," McMorran said, "but, to be quite honest, that's not as good as Julio can play. He's disappointed with his performance. He made more errors (18) than he usually does, but it's like anything else. He's a kid who feels he has to perform here and put a little too much pressure on himself."
"I did feel a little pressure at first," Fernandez said. "The second and third matches I felt more comfortable. I played my style of game and it went much better."
McMorran feels Fernandez can develop into one of the conference's elite players.
"I think so," Fernandez said. "Right now, I'm trying to help as much as I can. I'm working hard every day to be in better shape."
Garcia, who's six-foot-six, led the Reds to the sweep of McGill with 13 kills and six digs. He played for the Venezuelan junior national team back in 2003, but had been away from the competitive game for a few years. He's starting to find his stride now as he vies for playing time.
"I'm here to earn a spot and I work hard at it every day," Garcia said. "I'm improving and the team is improving. I'm very optimistic that we'll have success and I want to help."
McMorran has been mixing up the starting lineup. Six-foot-nine Jacob Kilpatrick and six-foot-eight John Sheehan man the middle, with six-foot-seven Tyler Veenhuis on the right side.
Fernandez will start on the left side, McMorran said, but that position has plenty of depth, with Ryley Boldon, Brett Watson and Kyle Blanchard all jockeying for playing time.
Andrew Costa is spelled by rookie Stephanie Fontaine at setter.
"A few guys didn't have their best weekends in
Both Venezuelans plan to attend UNB "for four years and get a degree," Fernandez said. "That's why we're here."
That commitment was crucial to McMorran bringing them aboard.
"Athletics for Venezuelans and Brazilians is a way to have a better life and this could be one of those situations," McMorran said. "Before I brought Julio here, I had to make it clear I wasn't going to venture out into something like this for a one-year deal or a one-hit wonder."
In AUS women's volleyball conference play, the 5-7 UNB women will also be in