Mt. Sentinel Grad Kendra Wayling gets grand send off at UBC/O
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Castlegar’s Kendra Wayling varsity volleyball career is not over quite yet.
Wayling, who was ceremoniously sent off during Senior’s Night at UBC/Okanagan, helped the Heat defeat Brandon 2-0 in the best-of-three Canada West Women’s Volleyball series Friday night and advance to the Final Four next weekend in Vancouver.
The Heat, after surprising the Bobcats Thursday in the opener, won the second match of the series 3-1 (29-31, 25-18, 25-23, 25-19).
Wayling and along with Jill Festival and Lenai Schmidt, are playing their last games at the Kelowna-based school.
“I didn’t think my time here would be this intense and exciting,” said Wayling after playing her final game at home, a thrilling five-game loss to University of Regina.
“I didn’t think I’d get the opportunity to actually play CIS volleyball and it has been such a great and amazing time to be a part of this team and to see how far we’ve come in only three seasons.”
Wayling arrived in Kelowna after leading the Mount Sentinel Sentinel Wildcats to the BC High School A Girl’s Championships and playing one season south of the 49th parallel at North Idaho College.
Wayling had an immediate impact, helping the Heat win their second BCCAA Provincial Gold in as many years.
The daughter of Trafalgar teacher Christine Wayling and Realtor Rand Wayling, was also the recipient of the CCAA National Scholar award that season.
The following season, Wayling was crucial in helping UBC Okanagan bridge the gap into the CIS, and her academic accolades continued to grow as she was named CIS Academic All-Canadian.
She was also the recipient of the UBC Okanagan Heat Scholar-Athlete award during that 2011/2012 season, in addition to being named UBC Okanagan Female Student Athlete of the Year.
“Kendra’s contributions to the Heat over her three years at UBC Okanagan aren’t best expressed in stats; she was the player that her teammates and coaches relied on to make the big play at the right time to carry the team to victory,” Heat Director of Athletic & Recreation Rob Johnson said during the senior send-off ceremony.
“(Kendra) will graduate as one of the most selfless athletes to don the Heat uniform.”
This season has not gone well for Wayling, who suffered a hand injury early in the year before experiencing a concussion after Christmas.
Wayling will graduate in the spring with a degree from the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences in the Arts program.
