The two 2018 Volleyball BC Hall of Fame inductees with Greater Victoria connections have a link that helps illustrate the tight-knit community in the sport.
Kent Andrews coached athlete inductee and Claremont secondary alumnus Greg Russell in 1969-70 when both were in their first year with the University of Victoria Vikings menB次元官网网址檚 team. They add to an Island group that includes legendary coaches Vic Lindal and Ron Greene, both inducted into the hall as builders.
B次元官网网址淭he IslandB次元官网网址檚 always been well represented,B次元官网网址� says Andrews. B次元官网网址淸For me] it all started at S.J. Willis.B次元官网网址�
He remembers the local volleyball scene ramping up at a time when he was teaching phys-ed during the day at the former junior high while coaching UVic in his off hours. With Lindal and Greene calling on their contacts and up-and-coming coach Andrews arranging the gym space, some big events were hosted at S.J. Willis, including one of the first international matches between China and Canada.
Andrews backed into his first post-secondary coaching job, taking over the menB次元官网网址檚 team at UVic B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渘obody wanted to do it,B次元官网网址� he says B次元官网网址� from Don Smith, who was menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚 coach but took a leave to pursue a masterB次元官网网址檚 degree. Smith had his pick of teams upon his return and Andrews took over the womenB次元官网网址檚 team, a post he held for the next 14 years.
During that time he coached at the high school level and helped develop the Team B.C. program. He was also instrumental in bringing the Pacific Rim Championships to Victoria and coached a Canadian entry in that tournament and others in Hawaii. His womenB次元官网网址檚 teams enjoyed success at the Canada Games, winning gold in Lethbridge in 1975 and silver in 1979 in Brandon.
He ended his high school career in 2002 after 19 years at Gulf Islands secondary on Saltspring Island, coaching boys and girls teams there as well.
Russell followed up a five-year career as a standout middle blocker at UVic with six years on the national team, for whom he played in the 1974 and 1978 world championships and the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.
Now a resident of Surrey, he played professionally in the International Volleyball Association, was a two-time B.C. beach volleyball champion and was a two-time all-star at the Canadian senior nationals in 1986 and 1987.
Andrews was proud to see such talents as Russell, and Regyna Armonas, whom Andrews coached on the provincial team before she played for CanadaB次元官网网址檚 womenB次元官网网址檚 side in the 1976 Olympics, go on to greater glory.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 always special to see somebody go as far as they can in their ability and represent their country,B次元官网网址� he says. As for coaching at a high level in general, he notes, B次元官网网址淭he competitive level is very special, especially if youB次元官网网址檙e fairly consistent and on the winning side of the ledger.B次元官网网址�
As Andrews has aged, so have his charges. He got involved coaching a senior womenB次元官网网址檚 team some years back and guided them to a bronze medal at the World Senior Games in 2005. He continues to help them out at weekly practices at the CFB Naden gym and has enjoyed travelling to Hawaii for tournaments in his retirement.
Looking back on his years in the sport, which began as a kid back in 1949 in Powell River, Andrews is rather matter of fact. B次元官网网址淚 have some disappointments, but I donB次元官网网址檛 have any regrets.B次元官网网址�
