Rhiannon Paterson will have an increased role with the Avalanche for the upcoming season

College of the Rockies’ Avalanche volleyball assistant coach Rhiannon Paterson has been selected to participate in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association’s (CCAA) Female Apprentice Coach Program (FACP). She will be mentored by Avalanche women’s coach, Bryan Fraser.

“I am thrilled to be selected for this program,” Paterson said. “Bryan is an impressive coach and former athlete with extensive volleyball and coaching knowledge. To be able to stand alongside him and learn his techniques is a very exciting opportunity.”

The FACP, funded by Sport Canada, aims to identify and support female graduating student-athletes who demonstrate the desire and skills for coaching and provide them with opportunities to participate in the coaching experience at the CCAA level.

Women’s Avalanche coach Bryan Fraser looks forward to the opportunity to mentor Paterson.

“Rhiannon’s passion for volleyball and her determination to help athletes reach their potential is contagious to myself and the athletes,” he said. “She has a unique way of motivating athletes and getting them to believe in their own abilities. She has extensive volleyball experience, and I am impressed with how she views and analyses the game. We’ve always worked well together, and I look forward to having her embrace a more substantial role in the 2021-22 season.”

The Avalanche volleyball program continually looks for ways to build the capacity of female coaches in the sport and to provide high quality coaching mentorship opportunities. Student Life and Athletics Manager, Cori Andrichuk, is eager to see Paterson’s contributions to the women’s team in the upcoming season.

“We are thrilled to be able to participate in the CCAA Female Apprentice Coach program and are excited to welcome Rhiannon as our apprentice coach. We look forward to seeing her work together with Coach Fraser and with our women’s volleyball team,” she said.

After a season without competition, due to the pandemic, Avalanche men’s and women’s volleyball teams are eager to launch the 2021-2022 season on November 5 at Douglas College.

Lead image: Rhiannon Paterson was chosen to take part in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association’s (CCAA) Female Apprentice Coach Program and will be mentored by College of the Rockies’ women’s Avalanche volleyball coach Bryan Fraser.

College of the Rockies

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