Memorial Sea-Hawks add Newfoundlander Claire Whiffen, Alberta small college standout to volleyball roster

The Memorial Sea-Hawks women’s volleyball team went home and away in recruiting the latest additions to their roster for the upcoming Atlantic University Sport (AUS) season.

The Sea-Hawks have announced Belle de Vries from Barrhead, Alta., and Claire Whiffen from St. John’s will join the team this fall.

De Vries is a 5-foot-9 outside attacker who had been playing for the Lakeland Rustlers in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Association, champions of the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association in 2017, and CCAA bronze-medallist last year.

“I chose Memorial University as they had the program that I wanted to pursue,” said de Vries, who will be studying physical education. “I really enjoyed my visit and found the program was impressive academically and athletically”

Whiffen is a Mount Pearl Senior High product who also competed with Sea-Hawks’ high-performance club program and within the provincial team system.
The MVP of the 2018 provincial championships and of her Huskies high school program, Whiffen will be studying engineering.

“I have seen Claire grow and develop as a player through our Sea-Hawks Club Program as well as Team Newfoundland,” said Memorial head coach John Slauenwhite. “Claire is a very dynamic 6-foot-2 middle blocker who will add immediate depth in that position.

“Along with athleticism, Claire is a student of the game. She always listens and learns, then applies the new information to advance as an elite athlete.”

The Sea-Hawks open their exhibition schedule in Ottawa Sept. 27 at the Gee Gees Classic.