REBEKAH LESKO

Heading into her fifth-year with the Huskies, women’s volleyball captain Candace Hueser is looking to start her final season off right.

The 5’11” outside hitter is the team’s only fifth-year player and her veteran experience is a key asset to the team. Not only is Hueser a dominant force on the court and a powerhouse at net, but she also possesses excellent leadership abilities. The Huskies will rely on Hueser’s experience as they battle the league’s tough competition.

With this being the final year Hueser takes to the court with the Dogs, she’s looking to apply all the lessons she’s learned over her  playing career to make this year the best yet.

“From last year’s season we learnt we just have to believe in ourselves,” she said. “Just knowing that we can push teams and holding that attitude throughout the game, not just at points. This year we’re finally having it for entire sets, where we’re believing in ourselves and just going hard.”

Hueser is optimistic about the season and believes the Huskies hard work will pay off.

“We’ve all been working very hard and now we’re finally coming together and bringing our skills together to be successful,” she said.

Hueser also boasts an impressive resume off-court as well, being named a Huskie First Team All-Academic — one of the highest academic honours awarded to an athlete. A hectic school and sport schedule is difficult to balance, so in order to be successful Hueser has to organize all of her time.

“I definitely have everything scheduled out — a lot,” Hueser laughed.

The fifth-year kinesiology student plans to finish her degree in the spring and has already applied for the 2-year post-degree nursing program.

A Dalmeny, Sask. native, Hueser didn’t discover her passion for volleyball until the eighth grade.

After not making the team in grade seven, she was encouraged by a teacher to keep pursuing the sport and with dedication and persistence she made the team the following year.

This progression quickly led to a love for the game, which resulted Hueser joining a club team in grade 10 and soon there was no turning back.

“I had some really amazing coaches who really helped excel me, even though I started pretty late,” Hueser said.

This dedication and love for the sport wore off on Hueser’s younger sister, Jennifer, who also has a spot on the Huskies’ volleyball team.

Jennifer “is smaller and she kind of blames me for taking all the height in the family so she had to be the libero,” Hueser joked. “But that way we make a pretty good team, she’s the passer and I’m the attacker at the net.”

When it comes to pre-game preparation, Hueser has her rituals. Her shoes have to be tied equally tight and she has recently been listening to “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.

“Generally my playlist changes, but it’s usually upbeat songs to get me excited mixed with some low-key songs that don’t get me too amped up, just so I have a nice relaxed confidence,” she said.

This type of confidence has obviously worked for Hueser as she continues to be a leader for the team and a dominant force on the court.

Catch Hueser and the rest of the team on Nov. 15 and 16 when the Huskies face the University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat in the Physical Activity Complex.

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Photo: Jordan Dumba/Photo Editor