Kerri Smit, 22, has been named to the All Canadian First Team in Women’s University Volleyball.
Kerri Smit
Photo by Nick Pierce
Smit has played with the St. Mary’s Huskies from Halifax, Nova Scotia, for the last five years. She has won numerous awards for her hard work, including this year’s Atlantic University Sport First Team All Star, and Most Valuable Player. This year marked the third time she achieved Most Valuable Player.
Smit’s tenure with the Huskies has given her unique experiences, such as playing in the Universiade Games in Belgrade in 2009 and training with coaches from Japan. “I always want to be my best at what I do, “she said.
Adversity hasn’t stopped her. In 2010, Smit lost her mother to cancer, and prior to that she was involved in her mother’s care. During that time, she only missed one tournament, and two days after her mother’s funeral was named the top player of a game. Despite her grief, Smit is motivated to work harder to “play for Mom.”
The most humbling part, said Smit, is that “. . . young girls look up to me so much, and they tell me that I am their role model. It’s amazing.”
Volleyball has been Smit’s passion since she was in high school. Though her university career is over, her dream of going higher in the sport may indeed come true. She has been invited to play beach volleyball with Team Canada and hopes to compete in the Summer Olympics of 2016.
Smit is a member of Faith Community Christian Reformed Church in Milford, Nova Scotia.
About the Author
Brenda Visser is the Banner's regional news correspondent for classis Eastern Canada.
