Hamilton, ON- From the moment Michelle Wood first stepped foot on Acadia’s campus in Wolfville over a decade ago, she had the belief this was possible.

Wood had just come off an OUA bronze medal season as an assistant coach with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. The year before that, she had won an OUA title and the CIS Libero of the Year award in her senior season with the Varsity Blues. This was her first time being a university head coach.

Wood knew the experiences she had. She wanted that for her players. For her program. She wanted so much more for them.

The Axewomen had just come off a 5-12 season. They went 2-14 in Wood’s first year. Yet, the Toronto native knew she had to build the program. She did so with commitment and loyalty. She wanted to see her vision come to fruition.

She kept challenging herself to be better – putting herself in uncomfortable situations – and learning as much as she could. All so she could give that back to the program.

After 12 years of work – all that time coaching, recruiting and building relationships with alumni – they won the AUS title for the first time in program history. They were celebrating a national quarter-final win over the reigning OUA champion Brock Badgers in a five-set thriller. They were reaching new heights.

All along the way, Wood and the team believed they could do so – even back in 2012.

Throughout the week leading into their game against the Badgers, their mantra was “win match one.”

Yes, they had won the AUS title. Yes, Wood was just named U SPORTS Coach of the Year. But they weren’t satisfied.

“It’s so exciting you’re here,” people would tell Wood when she arrived at nationals in Hamilton. “You’ve had a great season.”

“No,” she replied. “We’ve had a great season so far.”

They continued to push. They continued to prepare for Brock. Wood and her coaching stuff would pour over all the film on their opponents. What their rotations are. What their tendencies are. They would then break it down for the players.

Knowing and hearing that, libero Becky Dorsey felt a lot of relief. It took a lot of thinking away from her in the game. It took off a lot of pressure as well. She would follow the game plan, knowing it would work.

The preparation did work as Acadia went out to a two set lead over the Brock, winning the first two sets 25-23 and 28-26. Remember, they had the belief as well.

So, when the Badgers clawed back to force a fifth set…

Acadia focused on staying emotionally consistent. Setter Charlotte Dean remembers them talking about staying in their bubble. They’ll look at each other when things get tough. They’ll keep communicating.

Dorsey felt a calmness come through her. She knew they’ve been in these situations before. She never doubted they would pull off the victory.

Standing on the sidelines, Wood felt calm as well. She knew how important it was for them to stay emotionally consistent. To remember their game plan and stick to their strengths.

That means remembering their tactical adjustments. That also meant remembering why they are here. They remembered how they said they would win match one. “It’s a reminder of that in our values that’s going to allow us to be successful,” Wood noted.

That calmness turned to ecstasy as the players ran onto the court to celebrate after Dean set up Eva Collombin for the winning point of the match. They did so with their family and friends in the stands. They did so as the clock ticked past midnight in Wolfville.

When Wesley-Ann Bailey stepped foot on campus in 2021, her belief in herself still needed to flourish.

The middle had spent a couple of years with the York Lions. She struggled with belief as a younger athlete. She struggled with it when she arrived at Acadia.

However, year-over-year, Bailey built her belief and confidence. She did so with Wood’s help. She got more and more confident. So did her team.

“We are good enough and we’re a great team,” Wood would tell them.

She would feel the belief from Wood and her fellow coaches. Then, she started to believe in herself. “I believe in you so believe in yourself,” Wood would tell her. “There’s no reason to have doubt in yourself.”

Wood would give her all the tools she needed to succeed.

Leading up to the Brock game, Bailey knew their goal of winning match one. She also felt the motivation to prove that AUS volleyball is good. If you think AUS volleyball is bad, I’m going to show you what AUS volleyball is, she thought.

Heading into the fifth set, Bailey held that belief. We have all the tools we need, she thought. There’s no need to be scared right now. Just keep shooting our best shot and it’s going to work.

The Ottawa native could feel that belief when their best shots get blocked. She knew their next shot would go through.

She felt that belief in her teammates as well. Bailey’s a big believer in everyone needing to believe to make things work. “If we all truly believe it, it will happen,” she noted. Bailey found she had so much faith in her teammates.

So, when the final point was scored, Bailey felt a bit of relief…but also something else. They knew they were good enough. So, to finally show it…

Oh my god, Bailey thought. We did it.

Their Axewomen’s goal is onto winning their next game. Wood and her coaching staff have already thoroughly prepared for every possible opponent including – including defending national champion UBC in the semi-finals.

Yes, the Thunderbirds are very talented, Wood points out. But they’re also human.

Remember, the Axewomen are very talented and skilled as well. That’s what fuels their belief, according to Wood. “We’re not faking ourselves into a way of being,” she said.

Their confidence comes through because of their skill and execution. They showed it against Brock and will have a chance to do so against UBC.

Even over a decade later, they have the belief to keep making their goals a reality.

Featured Image: Laurel Jarvis/U SPORTS