RECRUIT PROFILE: Gee-Gees add outside hitter Oseremhen Audrey Odigie
The University of Ottawa women's volleyball team is pleased to add Oseremhen Audrey Odigie as part of their 2022-23 recruiting class.
A Brampton, Ont., product from the Halton Hurricanes Volleyball Club, Odigie is expected to suit up as an outside hitter on the Gee-Gees.
"I am definitely happy to be committed to the Gee-Gees," said Odigie, who is in her final year at St. Roch Catholic S.S. in Brampton. "The first thing I felt was relief because going through a recruiting period during COVID-19 was very stressful. Coach Woods and Coach Soro made the process very exciting and enjoyable; they were open and straight-forward with me."
"Our introduction to Audrey was on video and that highlighted her physical athleticism," said Gee-Gees head coach Lionel Woods. "Then we met her and were blown away by her smile and positive attitude. Audrey will add to our program on and off the court in so many ways."
A decorated player at both indoor and beach volleyball, Odigie brings significant provincial program experience to the Garnet and Grey. She has been a member of the Team Ontario Elite Program since 2020, and is a two-time provincial bronze medallist at beach volleyball.
"As a wing player at the U SPORTS level you need to be able to 'play big' at the net; Audrey has that in an abundance," raved Woods, who is in his 30th season at the helm of the program. "Her potential to attack with speed and power as well as present a block that opponents have to deal with will be a major strength we will lean on early in her career."
Odigie first considered attending school in the United States, but shifted her focus to options closer to home during the COVID-19 pandemic. After initial conversations with the Gee-Gees coaching staff, she made her official visit to the Nation's Capital, which helped her come to the conclusion that uOttawa was the right fit for her.
"The team was welcoming and I felt at home with the girls," said Odigie. "The environment was positive, I heard many good things about the campus life, Telfer School of Management is among the best in Canada, and most importantly, uOttawa is close to home."
A 2018 National bronze medallist at beach volleyball, Odigie is the third Gee-Gee to hail from Brampton, joining Trinity Lusan and Janae McKay. She will join a number of her volleyball teammates at Telfer in 2022.
"I knew of uOttawa because my older brother considered attending," said Odigie. "As I began researching the school, the Telfer School of Management caught my attention. One of the best things about the triple accredited business school is the connections you make throughout your university life."
Odigie will keep up with the progress of the team in 2021-22 by following the program's social media and tuning into webcasts of the matches. She is the second member of the Gee-Gees 2022-23 recruiting class, joining Brynn Lewis.