A key player for the UBC Okanagan Heat throughout her university volleyball career, Breanna Beamish is taking her game to the next level.
Thanks to solid performance at Volleyball Canada's selection camp, Beamish has realized a childhood dream by earning a roster spot on the national senior A women's team.
"It is such an honour to be selected to the national team," said Beamish, the fifth-year outside hitter from Surrey. "I’ve dreamt about playing on Team Canada since I was very young so this is so surreal to me.
"I’m so unbelievable excited to be a part of this amazing program and to continue to grow as a volleyball player."
Beamish said her selection wouldn';t have been possible without the support of many over the years.
"I also want to say a huge thank you to everyone that has supported me and believed in me along the way," the Earl Marriot Secondary and soon-to-be UBC Okanagan grad said. "To Mark and Moira Cassell and the Heat coaching staff, thank you for everything, I wouldn’t be the player I am today without all of you."
Beamish acknowledged the contributions Heat head man Steve Manuel, the two-time CIS coach of the year, who along with Becki Kosinski, Karl Enns, and Jackie Toews were on the bench for Brianna's entire five-year run at UBC Okanagan.
Randy Goodman, Dr. Shauna Taylor, and Tammy Thomas are among some of the others to coach during that time.
The Cassels were instrumental in Beamish's early development, they coached her on the Seaside Volleyball Club and at Earl Marriot.
Beamish will join Kelowna Secondary School product Marisa Field on the national team. Field played volleyball at the Kelowna campus for the Lakers in for two seasons. They are the only two athletes who played varsity at the Okanagan institution and went on to represent their country at the highest level in volleyball.