The Cobequid Educational Centre (CEC) in Truro, Nova Scotia, has churned out several talented high school volleyball players over the years.
Two of those players are Kristen O鈥橞rien and Adam Sandeson, who are now in their fifth and fourth years with the Dalhousie Tigers, respectively, and are looking to bring home a record 34th AUS banner to the university at the end of the 2016-17 season.
O鈥橞rien and Sandeson played two years together at CEC. For both athletes, the decision to come to perennial powerhouse Dalhousie wasn鈥檛 a difficult one.
O鈥橞rien鈥檚 rookie season in 2012-13 served as a transition year for the Tigers, as there were 11 other first year players also joining the team.
鈥淚t definitely made it easier, because we were all going through the same thing,鈥� says O鈥橞rien.
鈥淚 had a lot of guys that I could hang out with or ask questions and kind of resonate with what they were going through.鈥�
In Sandeson鈥檚 case, having a prior relationship with athletes such as O鈥橞rien was a huge plus.
鈥淚t was an easier transition than maybe going to play somewhere in Ontario or otherwise, because I knew most of the people on the Dal team already, including Kristen,鈥� says Sandeson.
The friendship that the two players have established over the years has been a positive both on and off the court. They have now played together for over half a decade.
鈥淎t times, he [Adam] would ask me a question or turn to me for advice, but I think that happens with anyone coming into university, you ask the older guys to kind of learn the ropes,鈥� explains O鈥橞rien.
鈥淲e鈥檙e definitely pretty good buddies, though, so that helps,鈥� adds O鈥橞rien. 鈥淲e communicate very well on the court, so it鈥檚 definitely nice to have those kinds of people around as well.鈥�
Both athletes have thrived in their time with the Tigers. O鈥橞rien is a three-time AUS all-star, while Sandeson was named the 2014-15 AUS Libero of the Year, and was an all-star last season as well.
The two standouts have assumed leadership roles with Dalhousie. Both players acknowledged that they tended to be less vocal in the past, but that has increased in the past few seasons.
鈥淥bviously, things change as the expectations get higher, and I have higher expectations from the coaching staff and other players now that I鈥檓 in my fifth year, as opposed to my first,鈥� says O鈥橞rien.
鈥淎nd it鈥檚 also knowing that the young guys look up to you, so you need to hold yourself to a higher standard with not only what you鈥檙e doing on the court but also in terms of school and in the community.鈥�
For Sandeson, being a role model to other players on the team is something he has started to become more comfortable with.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just kind of a natural acceptance when you get into those third, fourth and fifth years, you take on more with the team,鈥� says Sandeson.
鈥淭hat can range from anything from organizing events, to making sure guys are working hard at practice and then performing on your own as well.鈥�
You can see O鈥橞rien and Sandeson in action next on AUSTv.ca when the Tigers head to UNB this weekend to take on the Varsity Reds on both Saturday and Sunday.