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Second-year Volleyball Mountie Sophie Landry followed in the footsteps of her two older siblings, Gabrielle (’18) and Alexandre (’16), choosing to attend Mount Allison. She was drawn to the academics, the small-town atmosphere, and the ability to continue playing volleyball at a high level.

A setter and outside hitter from Charlo, NB, Landry has been playing volleyball since Grade 6 for her school teams, as well as Team NB in 2014-15. In 2017 she had the opportunity to play for Team NB in the Francophonie Games in Moncton.

She says her greatest strength is being able to read the game.

“As a setter, you need to be able know your own players and read what the other team is doing. That skill is what has made me succeed,” says Landry.

She says the game of volleyball has opened many doors for her.

“Volleyball is very challenging mentally and physically and I’ve learned a lot about myself through the sport,” she says. “I’ve been offered so many opportunities and met so many people through volleyball.”

Landry was named Athlete of the Year in her Grade 12 year at École aux Quatre-Vents in Dalhousie, NB and then Rookie of the Year for volleyball in her first year at Mount Allison. She credits her most memorable sporting moment as the moment she put on her Team NB jersey.

This year’s Mounties squad is currently 6-1 and is ranked 11th nationally. The Mounties will host the ACAA Championships in March.

“It will be great for the University to host the championships, “she says. “We have worked hard in our own gym and that will be helpful for us.”

Landry credits the team’s success this season to camaraderie.

“We all get along super well and are so supportive of each other on and off the court,” she says. “We also have an amazing coaching staff and each of the players accept their role and bring something different, but equally important, to the team.”

Landry was recently named Athlete of the Week for her performance in a 3-1 win over King’s, where she had 10 kills and 13 digs.

“It acts as a boost of confidence and it’s also motivation to work harder,” she says. “The athlete of the week doesn’t just come from my effort, but from all of the support from my teammates.”

Along with being a student-athlete, Landry is involved with the Mount Allison Students’ Union (MASU) on several committees, with the Health Matters Society, and tutoring at Marshview Middle School with Mounties in Motion.

A psychology student, Landry is exploring potential areas of concentration in psychology and is interested in pursuing a graduate program after graduation.