Skye Thompson will be a member of the UBC Okanagan Heat women's volleyball team this fall.
Calgary club standout Skye Thompson will add depth to the UBC Okanagan Heat women's volleyball team on the outside starting in 2015-16.
KELOWNA, B.C. – Calgary product Skye Thompson has chosen the UBC Okanagan Heat women’s volleyball team for her future in athletics and academics, bolstering the team’s offensive firepower as it gears up for another run at a nationals bid.
Currently co-captain of her U18 Canuck club team in Calgary, Thompson will bring her trademarked work ethic into both the classroom and onto the court.
With a ball at her fingertips, Thompson, playing predominantly outside-hitter, has powered her way to a slew of achievements on the court, including a U18 National Team Challenge Cup victory with her U17 Team Alberta in the summer of 2014. With a pen at her fingertips, she has achieved such scholastic heights as her school’s Academic Award for maintaining the highest GPA of her class for three straight years, a number in excess of 90%.
In her spare time, Thompson has mentioned herself as doing activities such as downhill skiing, and cross-country running, she is also in the school band as a violinist, playing since the age of three.
“It will definitely be a huge jump from club [to the CIS],” said Thompson, ever humble despite her achievements and capabilities. “But I like it when it’s tough because it gives you something to work towards.”
Her hardworking attitude will be focused mostly in the outside hitter position in Manuel’s system next year, though the 5’9 Thompson also has experience as a libero and defensive specialist.
“Skye is an extremely driven student athlete, and one that excels in many areas,” said Manuel of his latest recruit who will graduate from Calgary's Webber Academy this spring. “You only have to watch Skye play for a few minutes to figure out her approach to things—she gives it all on and off the court.”
“I am excited for the opportunity to work with her and I believe that she will add to our already hard working and dedicated team culture,” Manuel concluded.
While visiting the Okanagan campus once, Thompson had the opportunity to sit in on an aboriginal studies lecture with some of the current Heat roster members. “I’m [definitely] more a math and science person,” Thompson laughed, “so I’m going to be taking engineering.”
Thompson has said that her choice to leave her hometown of Calgary would not have happened if not for the opportunity to keep playing volleyball and pursue higher learning. “Family is really important to me,” she said. “[UBC Okanagan] is pretty close to home though—only a half-hour flight.”
There will be at least one familiar face with her, however, in Heat sophomore Sophia Furlan, another Calgary product with whom Thompson has played against when Furlan was with the Calgary Dinos club team.
You can catch Thompson, Furlan, and the rest of women’s volleyball back on the hardwood next fall as the Heat drive for another top finish in Canada West. Check back at goheat.ca for updated schedules as they become available.
Skye was named the CTV Athlete of the Week in November of 2014, watch the video online.
