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Volleyball Tigers announce additions to 2016-17 lineup

Bulmer, Laroche & Bagnell
Bulmer, Laroche & Bagnell

(Halifax, N.S.) - Women’s volleyball head coach Rick Scott is pleased to announce the commitment of Cassandra Bagnell, Audrey-Ann Laroche and Tessa Bulmer to the Tigers 2016-17 roster.

Bagnell and Laroche will be joining the Tigers for their first year of university, while Bulmer is a transfer from Acadia University.

Bagnell comes to the Tigers after five seasons with​ Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School’s volleyball team. She led the Bull Dogs to an 8-0 division record before claiming a city championship this past fall. They went on to a seventh place finish at provincials, their first trip to a provincial championship in 50 years.

A 6’1 middle blocker, Bangell also played five seasons with the Vancouver Thunder Volleyball Club.

“I’m very excited to play for the Tigers next season,” says Bagnell. “I originally looked into Dal because my family is from Nova Scotia, but after meeting the team, I am even more excited about the move to Halifax and continuing my volleyball career at Dalhousie.” 

A native of Vancouver, B.C., Bagnell has been accepted to Dalhousie’s liberal arts program to pursue a degree in psychology.

“Cassandra will provide a physical middle block for our team,” says Scott. “She is a committed athlete who has been training at the National Training Centre in Richmond, B.C. the past two years.  She has demonstrated that she has a strong work ethic while being very coachable and of high character.”

Laroche, a 6’3 right side player joins the Tigers after very successful stints with both the Maverick and Griffons volleyball clubs. In the 2014-15 season with the Mavericks 18U team, she helped lead them to a second place division two, tier one finish at the national open championships. This past season, she helped the Griffons cascade Outaouais to a third place division one, tier one provincial championship finish.

As a member of the École secondaire publique Louis-Riel’s volleyball team, she was named their MVP after leading them to league championship in 2014.

“I am really excited to be joining the Tigers,” says Laroche. “It’s always been a dream of mine to play university volleyball!”

The Ottawa, O.N. native has been accepted to Dalhousie’s arts program and hopes to pursue a degree in architecture.

“At 6’3, Audrey-Ann will be an intimidating right side hitter for us,” says Scott. “She has a strong arm with a big attacking and blocking presence.”           

A former AUS all-rookie team member, Bulmer will wear the black and gold for the first time this fall after three seasons with the Acadia Axewomen. The recipient of Acadia’s McGillivray Athletic and AAAU Athletic awards, she placed fifth at the national beach championships in Toronto last summer with partner and current Tiger Anna Dunn-Suen.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to play in my hometown and join a team where I am already familiar with the coaching staff and some members of the team,” says Bulmer. “I look forward to finishing my AUS career as part of the Tigers family.”

A three-time Academic All-Canadian and Dean’s List student, Bulmer recently graduated from Acadia’s engineering program and received the Ralph B. Mounce Medal in Engineering after receiving the highest average in her class. She will be continuing her industrial engineering studies at Dalhousie.

“Tessa is a great addition as she has three years of CIS experience as a setter with Acadia, and will provide good leadership to our team,” says Scott. “She is a very committed and hardworking student-athlete and a real team player. We are very familiar with Tessa as she played four years with our Tigers Volleyball Club and I expect her transition to our team to be smooth.”

“All three of these players can all play important roles and make significant contribution to our women’s volleyball program as we strive to continue our history of AUS and CIS championship success.” 

The Tigers won their fourth consecutive AUS championship this past year and will be looking to continue their dominance this season.