Have spike, get to see world.
Six-foot-two outside-hitter Thana Fayad of Victoria continued her volleyball journey this year by playing pro in Cyprus and getting her first practices with the Canadian senior national team over the spring in Italy.
She is currently closer to home on the Canadian NextGen team selected to centralize this summer at the national training centre located in the Richmond Oval, and will be headed with the NextGen squad to the PanAm Cup July 17-23 in Obregón, Mexico, and NORCECA Final 6 in the Dominican Republic Aug. 18-26.
The NextGen program is the pathway to the senior national team.
“Cyprus had its challenges, its highs and lows, but was a great place to start a pro career,” said Fayad. “I never imagined myself living in a country like Cyprus and being paid to play the sport you love.
“Then it was a cool opportunity after that to work out with the national team in Italy. It was a great experience working with players I look up to. You realize the higher level you go, it’s the small nuances in rallies that separate the best players from the good players.”
The former Oak Bay Secondary star played NCAA Division 1 for the University of San Diego and showed her desire and perseverance by returning for her final two seasons with the Toreros after missing back-to-back seasons following two left-knee ACL injuries.
Fayad continues a tradition of volleyball stars out of the Island that includes Olympians Fred Winters, Jamie Broder, Martin Reader, Greg Russell, Tom Graham and Ann Ireland. Fayad came out of that culture, growing up in the Comox Valley, before playing for Victoria clubs and at Oak Bay in high school.
Her father and former junior-national team player and USC Trojans recruit Jahmil Fayad is a coach in Victoria. Older sister Shimen Fayad was a sa国际传媒 high school champion and provincial MVP with Lambrick Park Secondary and played NCAA Div. 1 at Wichita State and then Cal State-Fullerton. The family line continues with younger sister Zavien playing volleyball at Esquimalt Secondary.
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