The e-mail message arrived, and MacKenzie Bouchard wasted no time in responding to it.
She had just been offered a roster spot on the volleyball team of her choice, so her excitement was understandable.
"I actually got [the e-mail] while I was hanging out with friends and I was just freaking out and telling everybody," said Bouchard, a graduating Duchess Park student who will play next season for the Concordia University College of Alberta Thunder.
"I'd always been thinking about [playing post-secondary volleyball]," Bouchard added. "Quite a few girls from Prince George have gone and they've really enjoyed the experience so it definitely has always been a goal of mine."
The e-mail came from Thunder coach Sherri Milne earlier this month, a couple days after Bouchard had attended an identification camp at Concordia, located in downtown Edmonton. She was one of 24 players at the tryout session.
"Just that feeling of knowing that they could be choosing none of us, they could be taking one or two -- it was really nerve-wracking," Bouchard said. "To find out two days later that I was chosen to be a part of the team, it was a great feeling."
Bouchard is a libero, or defensive specialist. She also has experience as a setter and power hitter. Milne said there's "a possibility" Bouchard could be the team's starting libero next season but she could also be utilized as a power hitter or right side hitter.
"She's an all-around player and her athleticism is really nice," Milne said. "I really like that about her. She's also really coachable, which is a huge asset."
At the camp, Bouchard's skills and leadership qualities set her apart from some of the other players.
"She came in and had no clue who these other players were and she performed at her top level," Milne said. "She wasn't nervous and her confidence just took over."
Bouchard is currently playing in the Prince George Youth Volleyball Club program with the 18-and-under Kodiaks. Unlike Kodiaks teammate Erika Morris, Bouchard has no previous Team B.C. experience. Still, she's confident she can compete at the college level.
"Playing with girls like [Morris] on my club team has really improved my skills," Bouchard said. "And working with great coaches in Prince George that we're fortunate to have, it's really helped and I think I'll definitely be ready for that level.
"My goal is to definitely be in that starting lineup," she added.
Bouchard, a straight-A student at Duchess, was awarded an entrance scholarship to Concordia and is being considered for the Concordia President's Leadership Scholarship, given to students who have high levels of community involvement. Her athletic scholarship, meanwhile, will kick in for her second year because she's not currently an Alberta resident.
Athletically and academically, Bouchard sees Concordia as a perfect fit for her. In the classroom, she plans to work toward a bachelor of science degree and is considering a career as a physiotherapist.
At some point in her volleyball future, Bouchard would like to play one level higher, in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport league.
"It kind of just depends on how my season goes and how I like the school but I'm hoping to finish my science degree at Concordia and then maybe for my last year go to a CIS school," she said. "That way, I can start my next step of schooling as well as another step in volleyball."
If UNBC offers volleyball at the CIS level five years down the road, Bouchard would jump at the opportunity to play in her hometown.
"That's what I'm hoping for, actually," she said with a grin. "If I could come back here for my fifth year, that would be awesome. It would definitely be great to have a program here."
