Abbey Neufeld celebrates following a big kill for the Waterloo Warriors in one of their back-to-back victories heading into the holiday break. (Submitted photo/Courtney Caird)

By Martin Martinson

Bump, Set, Spike

Battlefords local, Neufeld enjoying breakout season with Waterloo Warriors

Dec 10, 2022 | 8:00 AM

Battlefords local and former NBCHS Vikings standout Abbey Neufeld is in the midst of a breakout season of U-Sports volleyball.

The 6’4 right side with the University of Waterloo Warriors has been a key piece to the team’s success this season, helping lead the squad to an 8-2 record this year, and second place overall in Ontario University Athletics heading into the holiday break.

Neufeld scored a team-high 12 kills in each of the Warriors’ last two games heading into the Christmas break, to lead the team to back-to-back 3-0 victories to sweep the Nipissing Lakers.

In addition to the prolific kill totals, she also added an ace and 2.0 blocks in the team’s 3-0 win (26-24, 25-23, 26-24) on Dec. 2, and two aces and 2.0 blocks in the team’s 3-0 victory (25-19, 25-18, 25-17) Dec 3, to cap the 2022 calendar year.

On the season, Neufeld’s .364 hitting percentage sits third overall amongst all U-Sports athletes across Canada, while her 80 kills in just nine matches are second-most on the team.

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Abbey Neufeld spikes the ball in action for the Waterloo Warriors. (Submitted photo/Dan Congdon Photography)

Currently in her third year with the Warriors, but second season due to the lost year with the pandemic, Neufeld said her ability to take the next step this year comes from a culmination of being given more opportunities and taking advantage of those given.

“My teammates have been super supportive giving me the opportunities I need and encouraging me even when I make mistakes, so just knowing I have the freedom to give it my all and not worry about making mistakes [has been big],” she said.

“I’ve also been really working on different aspects of the game, communicating with my coach about what needs to be done to be given that opportunity and then to perform well when that opportunity’s given to me.”

Neufeld’s journey is only made more impressive by the uncertainty surrounding how quickly the recovery time would be, after undergoing knee surgery over the summer.

“Honestly, coming back this year I didn’t really know what to expect after this summer,” Neufeld said. “I wasn’t actually playing on-court until the middle of October, but sitting out definitely created a lot of anticipation, and just added to my eagerness to get back on the court and playing volleyball again.”

As the volleyball season hits pause over the holidays, Neufeld and the Warriors look to be in position for a strong finish, come to the resumption of the schedule in the new year. Seven of the team’s final 10 games down the stretch will be on home court.

Neufeld and her Waterloo Warriors teammates will return to action, on January 6 against the Guelph Gryphons.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1