The Dalhousie Tigers - Dalhousie University

As the years go by, the accomplishment of the 1981-82 Dalhousie Tigers women’s volleyball team becomes clear. To win a national championship is the ultimate accomplishment in university sport; to win at home is rare, and to win from outside the traditional geographic area of strength for that sport is exceptional. Not before or since has a team from the Atlantic University Sport conference captured a national championship in volleyball. In fact, it was not until the 2002-03 season that another team from outside of western Canada was able to win the championship.

The Tigers season was spent traveling across the country, competing against top teams in tournaments at York, Sherbrooke, UBC, Calgary, Laval and the Dalhousie Classic. This experience proved invaluable as every member of the team gained playing experience developing their own important role to play at the end of the season.

The season culminated with the national championship tournament, which was hosted by the Tigers at Dalplex.

The 1982 CIAU championship was unique as it was the last event where teams played a full round robin format, with the top two teams from the round robin advancing to the final. It was certainly a much more physically and mentally grueling format than that of today’s single elimination tournament; teams needed to be very fit and mentally tough in order to succeed. A one match upset was not enough, a complete, deep team was required for the challenge and only the best team would rise to the top. Ranked fifth out of the six teams in the tournament, the Tigers did a lot of rising!

The national championship tournament started well as the Tigers easily defeated York and Laval in straight sets on the opening day. On day two the Tigers played an intense match with Calgary, eventually losing in four close sets – three of which were decided by only two points. The Tigers were back on track in the second match of the day as they defeated Memorial again in straight sets. On the final day of the championship the Tigers took a straight set victory over Winnipeg to secure a place in the finals later that day.

In the final, the opponent was Calgary, the only team to defeat the Tigers in round robin play. The atmosphere in the Dalplex was electric with over 1200 fans packed into the stands and standing room crowds jammed into any space that remained. The Tigers responded using the energy in the building to take a commanding two set lead by scores of 15-7 and a close 16-14. But, this was the national final and Calgary was about to roll over! The Dinos responded and took advantage of Dalhousie blocking and serve reception trouble to take the next two sets 15-5 and 15-9. In the final set the Tigers got off to a great start and jumped out to an early 13-5 lead. Calgary closed the gap to 13-11, but the Tigers refused to let them get that twelfth point. Quoted afterward in the press, coach MacGregor commented, “That was a key point, holding them to 11 and not letting them get that twelfth point.” The Tigers then dug a bit deeper and finished off the set 15-11 to take the championship. Pandemonium! The celebration that followed included a trip to the Dalplex pool (in uniforms!), and plenty of chocolate and champagne.

Individually the team’s top performers were unquestionably co-captains Karin Maessen (CIAU Player of the Year, Championship All-Star and MVP) and Karen Fraser (CIAU All-Canadian, Championship All-Star), both of whom played with the national team for many years. The Tigers however were not a two- woman show. The starting line-up also included middle blockers Brenda Turner and Kathy Andrea and power hitters Veronika Schmidt and Bev Audet. Beth Yeomans, Janet Rhymes and Lorraine Cunningham were dubbed the super-subs, while rookies Kathy Cox, Diana Dowthwaite and Lyann Fougere rounded out the Tigers’ squad.

In reflecting back on the triumph when the team was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame, head coach Lois MacGregor noted the teams’ cohesiveness and dedication to each other as important elements in their success. “They all worked together. They cared for each other as a group. It was a really a very close family. Everybody respected each other’s contributions and we had fun. We did so many trips together. It’s hard for Atlantic teams because it’s so expensive, but I really felt we had the potential to go all the way if we did those trips to play that tough competition.”

Two years later the Tigers would again reach the final game, this time claiming the silver medal. Since that time no other team from the Atlantic conference has reached a medal game in the national championship tournament.