With each passing year, the accomplishment takes on added meaning. And as the years pass into decades, the 1982 Dalhousie Tigers women’s volleyball team is fast approaching legendary status. After all, two decades after the fact, they remain the only Atlantic University Sport volleyball team – men or women – to win a Canadian championship. The Tigers did it the hard way, too. Unlike the present day format, which allows teams to reach the final after winning only a couple of matches, the national tournament at Halifax’s Dalplex in 1982 was the last one featuring a complete round robin. That meant five matches. A marathon. One upset wouldn’t be enough here. Only the cream would rise to the top. The Tigers were ranked fifth of the six entries, but it didn’t matter. Sharpened from a season spent travelling to tournaments across the country, they recorded straight-set victories over Laval, Winnipeg, Memorial and York. A 3-1 loss to top-ranked Calgary Dinnies left both teams with 4-1 records, good enough to send each of them both to the final.

The atmosphere at Dalplex was electric that Saturday night in March. An estimated 1,200 fans packed the stands and the Tigers responded by winning the first two games 15-7 and 16-14. Unshaken, the Dinnies claimed the next two, 15-5 and 15-9. In the decisive Game 5, Dalhousie jumped to a 13-5 lead and hung on for a 15-11 victory. Bedlam. Pandemonium. And a post-game team party that included chocolate, a bottle of champagne and a swim in the Dalplex pool with their uniforms on. “At the time we were so impressed and amazed because we were the first,” said Tigers setter, co-captain and tournament MVP Karin Maessen. “Everything came together. And we had such a fan following. It was standing room only. It was just amazing the energy in that Dalplex that evening, just unbelievable. I’m sure that helped us ride through it. It wouldn’t have felt the same if we hadn’t of played at home. It would have been thrilling but … “

Maessen was part of a powerful starting lineup that also included co-captain Karen Fraser, middle blockers Kathy Andrea, Brenda Turner, and power hitters Veronika Schmidt and Bev Audet. Completing the roster were super subs Beth Yeomans, Janet Rhymes and Lorraine Cunningham plus rookies Kathy Cox, Diana Dowthwaite and Lyann Fougere. “We just sort of went with the moment,” recalled Maessen, who, like Fraser, played with Canada’s national team. “Besides having a lot of depth on the team, we had been playing (together) for years. We had experience and consistency. I think part (winning) had to do with having so much competition outside (Atlantic Canada). And if you look back at the papers we were always the bridesmaids. But you’re always learning and we were able to put it together when it counted.” 

For Dalhousie coach Lois MacGregor, the Tigers triumph was the product of a very cohesive unit. “They all worked together,” she recalled. “They cared for each other as a group. It was really a very close family. Everybody respected each other’s contributions and we had fun. We did so many trips together. It’s hard for Atlantic teams because it’s so expensive, but I really felt we had the potential to go all the way if we did those trips to play that tough competition.” The Tigers would win a silver medal at the nationals two years later, but since then, no Atlantic Conference has even reached a medal game. Looks like the 1982 Dalhousie Tigers are a hard act to follow.

Team members were: Kathy Andrea, Bev Audet, Sher Bagnell (water girl), Julie Brown (water girl), Kathy Cox, Lorraine Cunningham, Diana Dowthwaite, Pat Elliot (manager), Lyann Fougère, Karen Fraser, Lois MacGregor (coach), Karin Maeseen, Cindy Moore (assistant coach), Janet Ryhmes, Veronika Schmidt, Brenda Turner, Beth Yeomans.

Bio courtesy of Carl Fleming