MILDURA volleyballer Lachlan Scherger has already made an impact in his Canadian adventure but hopes it’s just the beginning.
The 20-year-old earned rookie All Star honours in his maiden season with Camosun College in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association PACwest provincial conference in British Columbia.
While the Chargers were disappointed to finish seventh in the national championship, the talented middle blocker said he was confident their results would improve next season.
Arguably Scherger’s favourite result of the season, however, came while back home on holidays as he took part in Sunraysia’s first ever division 1 men’s gold medal win at the recent Volleyball Victoria Country Championships.
The Mildura export said it had been a cool experience and he had embraced the culture of Canada and college life, also studying business administration.
“I’ve managed to make a bunch of mates over there now and we’re all super close, which has really made it a great experience,” Scherger said.
“Basically, I go to school, practise and sleep.
“We play games on Friday and Saturday but, being based on Vancouver Island, whenever we have away games we have to hop on the ferry and travel for an hour or so to head into Vancouver.
“The team I’m part of are all really close.
“Obviously we weren’t happy with finishing seventh out of eighth this year but we think we’ll have a better side for the next one.
“Ironically, the other side I was offered to play for ended up winning, but I also know I wouldn’t have played as much there as they had a few middles, so where I am I’ve pretty much been a starter as a middle blocker.
“We’ve got some strong recruits coming this time and all us rookies have that extra year of experience under the belt.”
Scherger said it was nice to be home, and helping Sunraysia to win their first top flight gold at the country championships alongside other volleyballers he grew up with was the icing on the cake.
“That was bloody awesome,” he said.
“I think that’s the highlight of the year for me and even though it was a few weeks ago I still think about it now.
“Playing with guys you’ve grown up with, and a few of us haven’t played together for a few years, to come out against teams who train together most weeks was huge for us.”
Scherger said he wanted to keep improving in his second year overseas and push for a national championship.
