The Sutter name has been synonymous with hockey in Central Alberta for decades.
But Brooke Sutter, daughter of Brent and Connie, is making her mark in a different sport as one of the top first-year players on the RDC Queens volleyball team.
“I never played hockey, I figure skated that was as close as I got,” she said with a laugh. “But I do get asked that question a lot, but it’s just a name, not much different than anyone else.”
Sutter grew up near Sylvan Lake and played a number of sports. She not only excelled in volleyball in high school and at the club level, but also in soccer.
She was recruited by the RDC soccer team, but had all but decided by the time she entered Grade 12 to focus on volleyball.
“I quit basketball going into Grade 12 and focused on volleyball as that’s what I wanted to work on,” she said.
“Soccer was an option and I understand there has been some who played both sports in the past. But I talked with some people who played at RDC and they said one sport was a lot. And being in my first year I didn’t want to put that much pressure on myself with everything. It’s a big switch.”
Sutter had a lot to learn coming out of high school where she was the team’s leading player.
“I didn’t play with anyone here before, but once we got going everyone fit in well together.
“Plus I was the go-to player in Sylvan and here there are so many high calibre players, so that was an adjustment. As well I don’t get the court time I was used to before. But it’s been good and I’m enjoying it.”
At five-foot-seven Sutter gives up some height, but more than makes up for it with her athletic ability.
“My jumping helped me a lot,” she said. “That’s something I worked on all summer. I couldn’t play up front if I couldn’t jump.”
Sutter has started in seven of the Queens 13 sets this season and is averaging 1.29 kills per set and has five aces— second on the team. She also plays solid defence.
“With our systems defence is a matter of being in the right position,” she said. “In college you get a lot more balls than in high school and it’s more intense, but a lot of fun.”
Sutter has played both the left and right side with the undefeated Queens (4-0).
“I played right side and setter before Grade 11 then switched strictly to the left side in my final two years,” she explained. “But I’ll play wherever he needs me.”
Brooke isn’t the first Sutter to play volleyball at RDC as her cousin Jessie, daughter to Calgary Flames GM Darryl, played one season seven years ago.
“I was six or seven years younger than her and at that time I wasn’t into volleyball as much, so I didn’t really come and watch,” explained Brooke, who did attend games last season.
“My friends and I came last year several times and I liked their systems and the way they played,” she said.
The Queens and Kings host Grande Prairie in Alberta Colleges Volleyball League play this weekend with the women getting underway at 6 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday with the men to follow.
l The RDC cross-country team, led by ACAC women’s champion Jodi Sanguin, will compete in the national finals Saturday in Fredericton, N.B.
l The hockey Queens and basketball teams are off this week. The hockey team returns to action Nov. 18 when they host SAIT while the basketball teams are back in action Nov. 19 when they host Augustana from Camrose.
l Volleyball dominated the Boston Pizza RDC athlete of the week voting.
Kings power hitter Taylor Hunt, who had 30 kills and seven aces as the Kings swept Augustana in a doubleheader last weekend, took the top male award while Queens libero, Tarah Truant, who had 24 digs in a pair of wins, received top female honours.
drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com