Lucy Charuk isn’t sure what is going to be more intense – Canada taking on three countries at the FIVB World Grand Prix, or the battle among family and friends for her allotted tickets.
“I bought 10 tickets and they are going to be fought over,” laughed the soon-to-be 28-year-old captain of Canada’s national women’s volleyball team. “I’m prioritizing them with family and my boyfriend but the rest are going to have to figure it out.”
When Canada hosts Germany, Peru and Czech Republic July 21-23 at the Richmond Olympic Oval, it will mark the first time Charuk has played in her home province since she was 17. That was during her high school days at South Delta Secondary.
The 6`2`` middle blocker received a full-ride scholarship to the University of Houston where she played for four years and earned All-American honours in her senior season. She then spent her winters in Europe playing professionally before coming to Winnipeg each spring to join Team Canada for the international season.
All that changed earlier this year when the women’s national team program relocated to the Oval. If training at home wasn’t exciting enough, the chance to play in front of so many that are close to her sets up a very special weekend.
“It’s like unbelievable actually,” she smiled. “It’s been so hard with the national team and playing around the world to have family watch you. Sometimes you get these live streams in foreign countries, but my grandma can’t even figure out (how it works) and it’s usually bad quality. We hosted exhibition games in Winnipeg and a world qualifier but not something as international as the Grand Prix and it’s happening in my hometown.”
Under new head coach Marcello Abbondanza, the national team’s schedule was fairly routine for several weeks. There were typically twice-daily training sessions, six days a week, in the morning and early evening. Charuk usually went back to her place near south Granville in Vancouver between practices.
Now Canada has embarked on its international playing schedule. The team placed sixth at the Pan American Cup in Peru last month then spend about a week back in Richmond before heading to Argentina and Puerto Rico for Grand Prix play.
It’s a schedule Charuk has become accustomed to over the past six summers playing for the national team. The huge advantage for her now is not having to find time for quick stops in Vancouver as well.
“It’s the first time I have lived in B.C. since I left for college,” she said. “I usually would try to get out here for a weekend or sometime after a tournament when we would get a few days off. It was very sporadic.
“Now, it’s so great. I live six blocks from my mom and can go there for dinner. I’m seeing my friends as well. I had my (10-year) high school reunion a couple of weeks ago. I never thought I would be in town for little things like that.”
Charuk has played professionally in Slovenia, Croatia, Romania and, most recently, Germany. She is currently a “free agent” for the coming season, but that’s typical in the world of pro volleyball at this time of year. She has earned the status at this stage of the career of having her options of where to play.
“I’ve done so many years overseas that I know what’s good and what not,” she explained. “I have a pretty good idea and my teammates have played in many places, too.”
Charuk intends to keep seeing the world and playing the game she loves right through Canada’s bid to qualify for the 2020 Olympics and perhaps even beyond. She is embracing her role as one of the national team veterans.
“One of the things that has changed over the last couple of years is showing up (at national team tryouts) and realizing you are one of the veterans now,” she added. “In some ways I can’t believe it’s been six years and other times it makes sense. My college coach told me I would peak at 30 and I’m holding onto that.
“Marcello has coached at a high level and knows how to get (to the Olympics). It will be a four-year process for sure but I can see the end result for us and how we are heading in the right direction.”
Charuk now gets to do all of it in her own backyard.
Canada’s schedule for the World Grand Prix at the Olympic Oval includes: Germany on July 21 (6:10 p.m.), Peru on July 22 (12:40 p.m.) and Czech Republic on July 23 (12:40 p.m.). Single day and tournament passes can be purchased at WGP2017.BrownPaperTickets.com.
