Renata Dykstra '22 Recruiting Profile

I am a 5'11" outside hitter and defensive specialist from Ottawa, ON, Canada, currently playing on the Ottawa Mavericks High Performance Competitive 18u Colts volleyball team. I have been a multi-sport athlete since I was 8 years old. I began playing competitive volleyball six years ago and now, in my last year of high school, I play indoor and beach volleyball, as well as, rugby 7's and 15's.

I grew the most as an athlete during my first year of high school. It was the year I began playing rugby alongside volleyball and also, the year I had an incredible club volleyball coach who inspired me to push my limits and become the best version of myself, not only an athlete, but also a person. I experienced Canadian Nationals that spring which inspired my dream to play university/college volleyball. The beginning of the pandemic had been a great challenge for me as an athlete, as a large part of my life was suddenly removed, which motivated me to train and to never take my experiences and opportunities for granted.

Throughout the years, I have become a strong leader on the court due in part from my athletic experiences, as well as, the involvement in the leadership program in high school. I have taken on the role as captain for my rugby team, in addition to, captain and co-captain for both club and school volleyball teams over the years. I consider myself to be a passionate and outgoing player, as well as, an enthusiastic and supportive teammate, and overall an impactful individual on and off the court. 

I am determined to taking my athletics to the next level and pursuing my post-secondary education in forensic science or biomedical science alongside it. I understand the commitment involved with playing on a high-level team and the balance required from me as a student athlete, as I have always had a very busy schedule, kept my education as a priority, while ensuring that I never miss a practice or game.