ELK POINT – This fall, Elk Point’s Calei Penner will be playing as a member of the University of New Brunswick (UNB) Reds women’s volleyball team.
Penner, a 17-year-old 5’11” middle blocker who is completing her Grade 12 year at F.G. Miller (F.G.M) High School in Elk Point, plays on the school volleyball team as well as the Bonnyville-based Alberta’s Rhinos Volleyball Club. Recently, she signed a U Sports Letter of Intent and will join the Reds ahead of the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) season.
For Penner, going to the east coast this fall to play volleyball while studying psychology is something she feels good about.
“It’s such a relief to have been recruited, and it’s so fulfilling to see all the hard work in school and in volleyball over the past few years pay off like this. I’ve had different people in my life tell me that college/university sports were some of the greatest times of their lives, so I’m really grateful to be able to begin that experience with the Reds,” Penner told Lakeland This Week.
Penner has been playing volleyball since she was in Grade 7. She has lived in Elk Point her entire life except for a year spent in Airdrie. While in Grade 9 at George McDougall High School in Airdrie, Penner played her first year of club volleyball with the Central Alberta Wolves, based in Olds.
After this, she moved back to Elk Point, where she played on and captained F.G. Miller’s senior team and joined the Alberta Rhinos Volleyball Club out of Bonnyville. She is a veteran member of the Rhinos, playing with their U17 and U18 teams.
“It was really special to play alongside girls I grew up with…we always competed hard,” she said, explaining that this led F.G. Miller High School to four consecutive St. Paul Athletics Association (S.P.A.A) banners.
“Captaining a young team of mostly 10th graders in my senior year taught me a lot about leadership and patience and I’m pretty proud they earned that fourth banner.”
Asked how university volleyball differs from the high school version, Penner said there is a higher level of dedication and focus, and every athlete is there because they want to be, and they want success for themselves and their team.
“I also know the game itself is faster and stronger,” she said.
Lauren Hale-Miller, the head coach of the UNB Reds, praised Penner, stating that the middle blocker will add another level of competitiveness to the team’s gym, pushing both herself and her teammates.
“She’s eager to develop and will work to adapt to the speed of university volleyball while continuing to refine her skills. With her mindset and work ethic, we’re excited to see her progress within our program,” Hale-Miller said. “She competes with intensity and isn’t afraid to challenge opponents. What makes her an exciting addition to our program is her willingness to learn and grow, showing a strong desire to keep improving.”
As for her future plans, Penner explained that she wants to prove to herself that she can go a long way with the sport, whether that is excelling in university or signing a pro contract. Penner is also looking forward to moving to the Maritimes, adding that she has heard plenty of positives about the people there, and how big of a sports culture there is in eastern Canada.
“I want to go as far as I can. Career-wise, getting into sports psychology to work with athletes’ mental health and performance has always been an interest of mine."
