The Bisons women’s volleyball team made history last weekend by winning the U-Sports national championship. The team, led by captains Light Uchechukwu and Julia Arnold, defeated the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in the semifinals, and won the championship after defeating the Montreal Carabins.
Uchechukwu shared the team’s journey to the championship, their experiences during the competition and their plans for the future with the Manitoban.
When asked about the team’s motivation for performing well in the competition, Uchechukwu said, “I think it was more of playing not just for me, but for my teammates. And not trying to be too much or do crazy things but keep the ball in play and just keep it simple because it’s not the Light show. It never has been or will be. It’s about our team.”
Uchechukwu was asked about what the key was to their success. “I think just our hard work,” she said. “Everyone has put in the work over the past few years, that’s either nutrition, in the gym, at school or just taking care of your body.” She stressed that “intense practice where everyone brings it all in” facilitated the confidence that the team brought to each game.
The team’s journey to the championship was not without challenges. “I think the most challenging part would be just how big the event was,” said Uchechukwu. “And there was a lot of expectations on us to win, not just from ourselves, but from everyone around us.”
Despite the pressure, the team remained focused and composed, drawing on their experiences and training to overcome the challenges. “We love the support that we’ve gotten,” she said. “But when we get on the court, it’s about all of the players. It’s about us playing for each other and just playing our game and staying together.”
The championship win marks the end of Uchechukwu’s volleyball career upon her graduation, but she is grateful for the lessons and experiences she has gained from the sport. “I think it just taught me some other life lessons about just pushing hard and work ethic,” she said. “And I love the sport for that because I don’t know if I would achieve the things I’ve achieved in sports or my academics if it wasn’t for the work ethic that volleyball has taught me.”
As for her plans after graduation, Uchechukwu is looking forward to applying the skills and lessons she has learned from volleyball to her future endeavours. “Because it’s my sixth year, it took a long time to get to where we are now,” she said. “I think it almost teaches me patience. If something doesn’t happen right away, it doesn’t mean that it won’t happen.”
Uchechukwu noted her appreciation for the team’s fans. “We all see you guys and we’re all so appreciative of all the love and support that you guys have provided us,” she said.
The team’s victory is not just a win for the university, but also for the community that has supported them throughout their journey. As Uchechukwu said to the fans, “I want to say thank you. The amount of support we got at the games were amazing. You guys were like, I don’t even know how to say it, thank you for showing your support throughout the whole season.”
