Neil Sedgwick's connectedness in soccer circles has brought a player with U.S. university experience to the UNBC Timberwolves women's soccer team.
Sedgwick, the team's head coach and chief recruiter, has landed fullback Ashley Volk for the 2017 Canada West season. Volk, who trained with Sedgwick earlier in her career, spent last year with the McKendree University Bearcats of Lebanon, Ill. The Bearcats compete in Division 2 of the NCAA.
Volk is originally from Victoria, which is Sedgwick's old stomping grounds. Volk pointed to her familiarity with Sedgwick as one of her reasons for transferring to UNBC.
"I have known Neil a long time and know the soccer environment I'll be in," she said.
"I've played under Neil for years. I have adapted to his system of play, which I feel confident in. I am a technically-based player and I enjoy getting forward, whether it be from the middle of the park or as a fullback."
As a freshman with the Bearcats last season, Volk started 13 games and helped the club to a 17-5-1 record and a championship in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
"Fortunately, we had a lot of success which allowed us to play teams from all over the country with different systems of play," she said. "Coming into the U Sports league, I think the pace and physicality from the NCAA will help me adapt. I look forward to the opportunity."
Sedgwick, of course, is thrilled to have added Volk to his mix of players.
"Ashley is a tremendous addition to our team," he said. "Her year in the NCAA helped her gather a great deal of experience. It comes on the heels of a number of years playing at the highest level in British Columbia."
The Timberwolves will start their season Sept. 9 in Kelowna against the UBC Okanagan Heat.
Away from the field, Volk plans to study chemistry at UNBC. She's a 2016 graduate of Victoria's Pacific Christian secondary school.
