Shanice Marcelle was often the only the player of colour on Island volleyball courts as she came up in the game. She was always cognizant of her status as a role model in a career in which she represented sa国际传媒 at every level from youth and university to the junior and senior national teams.
The 33-year-old from Victoria has announced her retirement from her playing career and is now lead assistant coach at York University.
“I was at a youth camp and a player asked me about my hair,” said Marcelle.
“I want to show young people of colour what is possible in our sport.”
Marcelle excelled on the courts with the Victoria Titans club team and Spectrum Community School and went on to become a rare five-time U Sports national champion with the UBC Thunderbirds, being named U Sports player of the year in 2011 and 2013, and the 2013 BLG winner as the most outstanding female player across all Canadian university sports.
Marcelle was the flagbearer for sa国际传媒 in the opening ceremony of the 2013 World University Games in Kazan, Russia, something she describes as an honour and one of her all-time career highlights. She played for sa国际传媒 in the 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games but never followed Island volleyball players such as Tom Graham, Greg Russell, Martin Reader, Jamie Broder and Fred Winters into the Olympic Games due in part to injuries that included shoulder surgery in 2016 and an ACL tear in 2017.
“The Olympics are seen as the pinnacle but they are one-offs and only a few get there. I see my achievements as my own personal Olympics,” she said.
Marcelle played pro in the top leagues of Germany and France and won two Bundesliga championships, being named playoff tournament MVP once, and captured the silver medal in the Coupe de France.
“I am grateful that I got to see a lot of the world representing sa国际传媒 and also while playing pro,” said Marcelle.
The Islander was a double threat for sa国际传媒 on floor and sand, playing on the beach volleyball national team since 2018 and winning three bronze medals in international beach competitions following her national-team indoor international career.
“Both versions of the sport provided their own challenges, for which mental and physical fortitude was required, and I loved both,” said Marcelle.
She said she takes the lessons learned from all her coaches — Keith Hooey at McKenzie Elementary, Brian McKinnon when with the Victoria Titans and former UVic Vikes player Doug Reimer at UBC — with her in her new career as coach.
“I can’t thank my coaches enough,” she said.
A strong supporter of athletes’ rights, Marcelle believes they have a right to be heard in terms of their development and safety.
“I want to use my voice to educate young players about building on their passion for the game and also standing up for themselves,” said Marcelle.
“Do the right things yourself as a player and make sure sports organizations do right by you. Sometimes, sports organizations do things that are right for the organization. Have a voice and speak out when you think things are wrong.”
Marcelle admitted it’s a “weird change” now to be on the other side of the ball as a coach. But if she handles it the same way she performed as a player, she will do just fine.
