Last summer, Prince George's Colin Carson helped Team Canada qualify for the world junior volleyball championship. But, when the tournament is played July 31 to Aug. 10 in Brazil, he won't be in uniform.
Despite having a job as one of Team Canada's two setters last year, Carson didn't make the club this year. Tryouts wrapped up on the weekend in Gatineau, Que., and setters TJ Sanders and Jarron Mueller got the nod over a disappointed Carson.
"I felt like I played pretty well the whole camp," said Carson, a Duchess Park graduate who now plays for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack of Kamloops. "I felt like I probably was strong enough to make it but both players that made it over me in my position are really great players so [the coaching staff] couldn't really make a bad decision."
Heading into tryouts, Carson considered Sanders and Mueller as his main competition. Sanders was also part of Team Canada last year, while Mueller was a newcomer.
Sanders plays for McMaster University, while Mueller runs the offence at the University of Alberta.
Carson said he's "not really too sure" why he wasn't chosen for Team Canada duty this time.
"In physical testing I was on par or ahead of them in everything and I felt like I played well the whole camp," he said.
If Sanders or Mueller can't play due to injury, Carson has been told he'll be the next guy in line. But, as it stands now, the thing that stings the most is the likelihood he won't get to experience the world championship.
"Not being able to go is obviously a disappointment," he said.
Carson, 19, plans to spend his summer here in Prince George. He'll use the time to get himself ready for next season with the WolfPack and a potential tryout for the senior national B team.
"I think this is going to help motivate me for next year," he said. "It's going to make me push a little harder in the gym than maybe I would have and I'm hopefully going to be that much stronger for next year."
