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18 Stouffville Sun-Tribune | Thursday, December 24, 2015 | SPORTS Volleyball star ready to hit beach at Florida school By Michael Hayakawa mhayakawa@yrmg.com Katey Merksamer of Stouffville signs letter of intent to play for Stetson University. You can make a difference in a child's life this holiday season. $30 $50 $75 $100 $250 helps to provide for a special holiday wish for a child in foster care. helps a family in crisis with emergency food support. helps a student, who has grown up in care, travel home to be with a friend or sibling so they aren't alone for the holidays. helps provide normal childhood activities like sports and recreation. provides a new mom with a crib, helping keep baby safe and at home. When Katey Merksamer attends university in Florida next year, she anticipates spending a good portion of her time on sand. The 17-year-old Stouffville resident won't be lying on the beach, relaxing. Instead, Merksamer will be taking to the sand court to play beach volleyball for Stetson University Hatters women's squad. A Grade 12 student at St. Brother Andre Catholic High School in Markham where she was top senior female athlete last year, Merksamer recently signed her letter of intent to attend Stetson after entertaining other athletic scholarship offers from schools including Florida Atlantic and Northern Florida. Merksamer acknowledged it was a tough decision electing to sign her letter of intent to attend Stetson. She says she took several factors into consideration after visiting the Orlando-area school, which was ranked sixth in the NCAA Division One last year. "Obviously the weather is a big selling point in playing beach volleyball," she said. "But the campus was beautiful and smaller in size and I felt comfortable with that." First playing organized indoor volleyball when she was 11 years old, Merksamer's introduction to beach volleyball came just two years later. "From the moment I got on the beach, I knew it was the game for me," she said. "I love the strategy that's involved in the beach game and my quickness in the sand has always helped me succeed." Since making her debut in the beach game, Merksamer has progressed her way up the competitive ranks to where she was a member of the 18U Team Ontario beach team last year and had the opportunity to train with some of the best players in the province all summer at Ashbridge's Bay. As well, the five-foot, eight-inch Merksamer served up a silver medal in the 2015 Ontario championships. Merksamer was quick to credit a couple of individuals. They include Daniel Shermer, who Merksamer first became acquainted with as a skills development coach in indoor volleyball with the Markham Stingers. When Merksamer began playing beach volleyball, Shermer also ran a development program at Camp Robin Hood in neighbouring Markham. `From the moment I got on the beach, I knew it was the game for me.' While at the camp, Shermer took careful note of her passion for the game and helped her get into a recruiting combine in Florida that attracted coaches who were seeking student-athletes. Merksamer calls it her big break. While working with Shermer, Merksamer was introduced to Daniel Dearing, a member of Canada's national team. Dearing became Merksamer's personal coach and mentor. Kristina Hernandez, Stetson University head women's beach volleyball coach, is elated to have Merksamer included as one of six incoming student-athletes to her team next year. "Katey is smaller but is extremely explosive and quick in the sand," she said in a Stetson University athletic department news release. "This gives her a lot of range and versatility. I look forward to seeing her contribute immediately in our program." Intending to do her undergraduate work in psychology and hoping to pursue a law degree, Merksamer said she hasn't set her sights too far down the road as to where she hopes her volleyball career might take her. But in the short term, she will attempt to qualify for international play next year. Donations will be used towards these and other YRCF priority needs. Nick Zanzonico co 16915 Leslie Street Kennedy Place Newmarket, Ontario, L3Y 9A1 905-895-2318 Charitable Registration Number 83174 0634 RR0001 Happy Holidays In support of 416-407-9407 07 Recepient of the e 2014 Gold Sales s Marketing Guild d Wishing all my customers a Merry Christmas and A Prosperous 2016 CALL NICK ZANZONICO 905.294.1440 X 270 Benefiting happy childhoods and bright futures for children and youth involved with York Region Children's Aid Society. Please visit yorkregionchildrensfund.org to make your donation This message brought to you by Metroland Media today and give hope to a child in need. CHEVROLET · BUICK · GMC nick.zanzonico@markvillechevrolet.com 5336 Hwy. 7, Markham (Just East of McCowan Rd.) 905.294.1440 · www.markvillechevrolet.com