Tessa May suffered from stress fractures in both legs this season but that didn’t stop her from winning the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-West Region Honourable Mention.
The award is given to players based on voting by coaches in the league. May plays for the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Clan, which is the only Canadian women’s volleyball team to participate in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
May, who is from Roberts Creek, discovered the news while scrolling through Facebook. “I didn’t expect to win at all. I’m very, very honoured,” she said.
The 20-year-old just finished her third season as centre and has been a starter since her rookie year, but she admits this year was exceptional. “I have not hit those numbers before,” she said. May led her team in kills (292), hitting (.366) and blocking percentages. Her hitting percentage was second in the league. Last year she was in the .260s. “I don’t know what’s behind it.”
Gina Schmidt, SFU’s head coach, says part of May’s success has to do with her talent, as well as “some of those things you can’t teach, like being 6’2” without shoes.” Another success factor is her mental strength.
May has been dealing with shin splints for six years, but during this season the chronic injury deteriorated into stress fractures. “It’s not common and especially to have one for as long as she has had,” said Schmidt. “Perseverance and mental toughness, those are all attributes she’s had to rely on.”
Another reason for success could be Schmidt herself. Schmidt was assistant coach at the University of Montana, an NCAA Division 1 team, before joining the Simon Fraser University Clan as head coach. Under Schmidt’s leadership, the SFU women’s volleyball team has gone from losing all but one of its regular season games to enjoying four winning seasons in a row.
Schmidt invested time recruiting players like May, and she sees Canada’s small towns punching above their weight because of the impact one or two good coaches can make.
May says her elementary school coach Barry Krangle inspired her. “I was lucky enough to have Mr. Krangle as someone who kind of pushed me to start playing volleyball, and he really made me enjoy it. And I think that’s a big part of it, is wanting to continue playing, not just playing because you feel like you should.”
Roberts Creek has produced a number of elite volleyball players, including Kyla Richey, a professional player and member of the Canadian Women’s National Volleyball Team, as well as Devon May, Tessa May’s sister.
Devon May played for the SFU Clan and now serves as assistant coach. “Last year she was team captain, this year I am one of three team captains,” May said. “It was a big role stepping into it, and she helped coach me on how to deal with all that stress.”
Despite her fractures, May hopes to keep playing after she graduates, and so does Schmidt. “Honestly, the sky is the limit for Tessa. It’s just a matter of what her body will allow.”
