Roberts Creeker Devon May has earned her first international gold medal since joining the pro beach volleyball circuit earlier this season.
May and her partner Darby Dunn took gold after beating Mexican team Diana Valdez and María José Quintero 2-1 at a North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (Norceca) tournament in La Paz, Mexico last weekend.
Norceca is a sports organization that oversees volleyball activities in 35 countries in North and Central America, including Olympic and World Championship qualification tournaments. Canada ranks second after the U.S. in Norceca ratings.
“In this sport you have to lose so much in order to win, so just getting the feeling of actually winning is the biggest reward ever,” May told Coast Reporter.
May, who is based in the Lower Mainland, represents Canada at the international level, but trains as an independent professional athlete, since she doesn’t live in Toronto, where the Canadian beach volleyball team trains. May is on the Next Gen roster with Volleyball Canada – which supports up-and-coming athletes.
“Because I want to remain in Vancouver for the next couple of years, I realize I have to work and pay for and make everything happen for myself,” said May, who coaches full time, including running a Volleyball Canada Regional Excellence Program.
“Right now, I’m just at the beginning of my international career. I’m really working to get as many opportunities I can.”
This weekend, May is expected to visit the Sunshine Coast for a beach volleyball clinic, open to beginner and advanced players and organized by Dan Tsuji of Sunshine Coast Beach Volleyball Club (SCBVC) at the beach volleyball courts at the Rotary Friendship Park in Sechelt.
The number of registrants is low, said Tsuji, and May’s appearance will depend on how many register, with a minimum of four participants each in the beginner and advanced classes.
“It’s amazing, I love it. I coached Devon when she was younger… she’s been one of my favourite players since the very beginning, so it’s just great that she comes back and renews that energy,” said Tsuji of her expected visit.
People interested in the clinic can register at scbvc.com
