(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS women’s volleyball team continues to build a solid 2023 recruiting class with the addition of 6’0” left side Mia Ruse, from North Vancouver, BC.
The 17-year-old has signed a U SPORTS Letter of Intent and will join the REDS ahead of the 2023-2024 Atlantic University Sport season.
“Mia is someone who we feel will help solidify our outside attacking and passing,” said REDS’ head coach Richard Schick. “She’s an extremely skilled young student-athlete who has always played up in age because of her physicality and overall skill set.”
Ruse is finishing her Grade 12 year at North Vancouver’s prestigious Mulgrave School, where she’s been the captain of the Titans’ varsity girls’ team since Grade 9.
In 2022, Ruse was named North Shore league Player of the Year while leading the Titans to the league title and the silver medal at the AA provincial high school championship.
“I find UNB’s strong sense of community really appealing, because I’m someone who thrives in tight-knit environments,” said Ruse. “UNB’s small-town vibe and caring community immediately made me feel at home, and the REDS were particularly welcoming.”
At the club team level, Ruse played her U16 seasons with the BCO Volleyball Club’s U17-U18 side.
In 2021, as a 15-year-old, she was part of Team BC’s U17 side.
In 2022, as a 16-year-old, Ruse played with Team BC’s U19 team.
“As a multi-sport athlete who is known for my ability to collaborate with different types of people, I am particularly proud of my positivity and supportiveness,” she said. “My time as a student-athlete has also taught me the importance of resilience and having a great work ethic, and I am dedicated to getting better every day, both physically and as an individual.”
“She’s been fortunate to have been coached in very supportive, competitive environments throughout high school, in her club system and the Team BC program,” said Coach Schick, of Ruse. “She’s a former club and provincial team teammate of current RED Heather Benko, and I’m very excited about reuniting them here at UNB.”
Ruse says her short term goal will be to improve her physical ability. Longer term, she wants to help take UNB to a national championship tournament.
Ruse will study Kinesiology while attending UNB.
STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS: Submitted