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News Release

Volleyball Adds Sarah Joy to Complete Incoming Class

5/19/2008

BALTIMORE—UMBC head volleyball coach Ian Blanchard announced today that Sarah Joy, the daughter of two Olympic medalists, has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Retrievers in the fall of 2008.

Joy, a 6-foot middle blocker and right-side hitter from Brookfield High School in Ottawa, Ontario, plays for the National Capitals Volleyball Club. Despite being a relative newcomer to the sport of volleyball, Joy was a member of the Under-17 Ontario Provincial Team last summer.

“What Sarah lacks in experience, she makes up for in her athleticism,” Blanchard said. “We believe she has the potential to be an absolute dominant force at the net for us. She has the opportunity to compete for significant playing time this coming season.”

Joy was raised in an athletically inclined family, as both of her parents represented Canada in the Olympics and are members of the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame. Her father, Greg Joy, won the silver medal in the high jump at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and was flag-bearer for Canada during the closing ceremonies. He also won two NCAA titles at the University of Texas-El Paso and set a world indoor record in the high jump in 1978. Her mother, Sue Holloway, became the first woman and the first Canadian to compete in both the Summer and Winter Games in the same year, as she competed in cross-country skiing at the 1976 Winter Olympics and kayaking in the 1976 Summer Games. Holloway won Olympic silver and bronze in kayaking in 1984.

“Growing up in that type of household, she has a great understanding of what it takes to be successful,” Blanchard said. “We are excited about the prospect of working with Sarah as much because of her work ethic and passion for volleyball, as well as because she is a fantastic athlete.”

Prior to picking up volleyball, Joy was a city champion in the high jump.

Joy is the third member of Blanchard’s 2008 recruiting class, joining Alyssa Lang and Allie Spaay, who committed to UMBC during November’s early signing period. Lang was recently named an American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American and the Gatorade Virginia Player of the Year.

“We’re very excited about this group of girls,” Blanchard said. “Each one will compete immediately for significant playing time. These are three young women with extremely high character who I’m confident are going to go after it from the get-go.”