Thomson to tryout for Team Canada beach squad
By Earl Zukerman
MONTREAL – Jennifer Thomson, a senior with the McGill Martlets has
been invited to attend the Canadian national beach volleyball team
selection camp in Toronto. Dec. 5-7.
Among the other invitees to the camp is former McGill volleyball
star Marie-Andrée Lessard, a 30-year-old native of Laval, Que., who
has earned $97,500 since joining the pro beach tour since
1999.
The purpose of the camp is to identify, select and train a group of
athletes that have potential to win medals at future Olympic
Games.
Thomson, a 5-foot-7 power hitter from Rosemere, Que., is a two-time
all-Canadian. The 21-year-old physical education major, earned CIS
rookie-of-the-year honours during her freshman year in 2005-06. She
currently ranks sixth among CIS leaders in digs per game (4.9) and
seventh in kills per game (3.7).
“It’s great news for Jen and for our program,” said Rachèle
Béliveau, in her 18th season as head coach at McGill. “She has
really improved her game, both offensively and especially on
defence. Her serve receive ratio currently averages 2.52 (out of
3.0) and is certainly among the best averages in Canada. She is
also ranked among the top 10 in CIS stats on defence, kills and
points per game.”