Cordes hopes final season is memorable

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

Strathmore volleyball player Rhiece Cordes is hoping that she will provide a leadership role in her fifth and final year with the Calgary-based 403 Selects.
She has played in some very competitive volleyball tournaments south of the border, and is really looking forward to one in Las Vegas this year.
“I’ve been playing there since U14, it’s been a lot of fun and I have met a lot of cool girls. We’ve done a lot of traveling, been to San Francisco twice, and this year we’re going to Las Vegas,” said Cordes. “I trained with the national team in Winnipeg and the Team Canada coach, so that was pretty cool.”
She has really flourished with the opportunities that have been presented to her through volleyball and having the ability to listen to her coaches.
“My coach last year really said I was a hard worker, so I just tried to work hard and be a coachable athlete. Something I’ve learned since U14 is coaches are looking for is someone that listens to them, that’s what I’ve been recognized for,” said Cordes.
The Grade 12 Holly Cross Collegiate student has her preferred positions on the court, but can fill-in on others if necessary.
“I play left side in school, and then I play right side in club, either or – I’m versatile that way,” said Cordes.
Since Cordes has been with the club so long she hopes to be a source of motivation for other teammates and help them adjust on the court.
“Every club is an adjustment, so I kind of help the girls adjust to 403. I hope to be a leader, but at the same time, I play with lots of leaders too,” said Cordes. “It’s always good to get pointers from other players as well. That’s the thing about club atmosphere, is players are so strong, it’s a lot of fun to play with girls that are really committed and everyone can feed off of each other.”
The most important thing she has learned in five years with the 403 Selects team is that you learn from your mistakes and move on quickly.
“Volleyball is a game of mistakes and so you have to learn from your mistakes and move forward quickly in order to adjust to the situation,” said Cordes. “This year in school and in club, if I made a mistake and I start to get down on myself, that creates bad habits for myself and the team. So I’ve learned that you have to make a mistake and stay positive.”
Cordes is hoping to experience the provincial tournament again this year and get a chance at the final for the second year in a row.
“I’m sure we’re hoping to be within the Top 3 at provincials, that’s usually our goal, so I’d really like to experience that again and to be able to compete in the Vegas tournament,” said Cordes.
She has noticed that there are some adjustments between playing club and school volleyball.
“The biggest difference for me is that when I play school, I am one of the bigger leaders, so there is a lot of players that look up to me and I’m the center of attention there,” said Cordes. “So I really need to watch the way I approach other players and just try to be encouraging towards them, but in club I can always look to other players.”
Her most memorable moments was competing in the San Francisco tournaments, both playing and bonding with the team.
“In my U16 year, we went to San Francisco and there was this amusement park called Santa Fe. One of the girls convinced me to go on this ride and it goes around in a circle and you come up right over the ocean, usually I don’t like spinney rides and this one was definitely worth it, we were laughing and laughing,” said Cordes.
“(On the court), last year I was working on my line shot and it took me all season to really perfect it and at provincials it was an important cross-over game. I got a really important point with my line shot and I just remember being so happy.”
She would recommend if you want to play club volleyball to stay positive and to realize that there are players that are better than you at something.
“It’s important to focus on your own talents and do it to how you know it,” said Cordes.
Her future in competitive volleyball is completely up in the air right now, but if she were to get a scholarship, she would continue to play at a highly competitive level.
She wants to study psychology as an undergrad and then attend law school.