When Emma Boyd first picked up a volleyball in Whitehorse, Yukon, she never imagined it would lead her to Mount Royal University, let alone a spot on Canada’s Next-Gen national team. Now in her fourth year as a middle blocker for the Cougars, Boyd has become a leader both on and off the court, overcoming obstacles and proving that talent can emerge from even the most remote locations.
For Boyd, the path to post-secondary volleyball wasn’t straightforward. “To be so real with you, it was really the only school that wanted me,” she admitted. A standout athlete in multiple sports, she had offers in basketball and swimming, but volleyball seemed out of reach until former Cougars coach Sandra Lamb spotted her at Western Canada Summer Games. “Sandra saw me at Westerns and was like, ‘Yeah, email us some video.’ I did, I came for a visit, and they had a spot for me. That’s basically how it happened.”
Coming from the Yukon, Boyd faced unique recruiting challenges. “We go to either BC Provincials or Alberta Provincials with our club team, but we’re usually in the bottom division, not playing so great,” she explained. “There’s not a lot of exposure. Volleyball players from the Yukon that play U SPORTS—there’s only been two or three of us, ever.”
Boyd’s athletic journey didn’t start with volleyball. “Every kid gets put into soccer, but I swam because my brother swam. I did that competitively from when I was eight until I was sixteen,” she recalled. Her mom encouraged her to try a team sport, and volleyball became the natural choice. “All the girls from my swim club played volleyball, so it was just my friends and me playing through high school.”
Initially, Boyd struggled with the sport. “I was horrible at volleyball for the longest time until I went to Jasper Volleyball Camp in grade nine. Then I started to get a little better, and in grade ten, I was okay. By grade eleven and twelve, I was decent. I was over six feet by then, so I could hit on top of the ball. But I didn’t really get good until I got here.”
Like many athletes of her cohort, Boyd’s transition to university life was complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic. “I came in the fall of 2020—peak lockdown. I was living alone in residence. The only time I saw people was at practice, and even that kept getting shut down or moved to small groups,” she said. “It was tough, especially transitioning from high school to university online. But Alberta felt similar to home, and I loved the big-city experience.”
Despite the hurdles, Boyd quickly made an impact on the court. As a first-year player, she found herself thrust into the national spotlight. “It was the game we needed to win to qualify for nationals against UBC. I was doing my arm warm-up when former head coach Shane Smith came up and said, ‘Okay, we’re going to start you today.’ I was like, oh.”
She rose to the challenge and started throughout the national tournament, helping the Cougars earn a silver medal. “Getting to play in that national final as a first-year student was surreal. That semifinal against U of A was probably my favorite game I’ve ever played. Even though it wasn’t our gym, it felt like it was.”
Over the years, Boyd developed into a leader for the Cougars. She also earned a spot in Canada’s Next-Gen program after initially being cut. “I tried out last year and didn’t make it. Tried again this year, got the email, and I was shocked. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done but so rewarding.”
The experience tested her resilience. “I didn’t make the first travel team, which sucked, but then the A-team didn’t qualify for the Olympics, so they took over Next-Gen. A few middles dropped, and suddenly I was in the mix for a spot at the Pan Am Cup in Mexico. When Shannon Windsor called me into her office, I thought it was just a check-in. Instead, she told me, ‘You’re going to Mexico.’ I started sobbing.”
Fate played a role in Boyd’s playing time at the tournament. “Two of our middles broke their feet, so it was just me and Dholi left. I got to start the rest of the tournament. It was insane and so much fun. I even finished as a top scorer in some games. Representing Canada, wearing the Maple Leaf—it’s something I never thought I’d do coming from the Yukon.”
Boyd’s time at MRU has been defined by unforgettable moments. “Nationals, both years, stand out. Even when we lost to Manitoba in 2023 and our hopes were shattered, we came up the stairs from our team room and all of our parents were standing there. It was the worst feeling but also the most endearing. I realized these people would be in my life forever.”
Through it all, her family has been her biggest supporters. “My parents haven’t missed a home game this year. They surprise me all the time, just showing up when I don’t expect them. My mom takes pictures of me playing on TV and sends them to me, and my dad’s screensaver is a crooked photo of my first Player of the Game interview. They’ve always found a way to be there.”
As she nears the end of her university career, Boyd is preparing for the next chapter—Mount Royal’s playoff run. “We’re heading into playoffs next week, and I’m so excited to compete with this team. It’s been an incredible journey, and we’re ready to give it everything.”
When asked how she wants to be remembered at MRU, Boyd answered with her signature humor and humility. “My celebrations,” she laughed. “Hopefully, people remember me as someone who was kind, who made their day a little better. I always say, ‘Hey, it’s Emma from volleyball,’ and people are like, ‘Yeah, we know.’ I think that’s funny.”
Her leadership has extended beyond the court, especially under current Cougars coach Rhonda Schmuland. “This year, I put a lot of pressure on myself because I signed with an agent, had national team experience, and was named captain. But I struggled to find my best volleyball. I kept apologizing to Rhonda, saying I wanted to play better for her. She told me, ‘I just need Emma to show up. Not the player you’ll be one day—just you.’ That meant a lot.”
Emma Boyd’s journey from the Yukon to Mount Royal and now into the playoffs is a testament to perseverance, passion, and the power of believing in yourself—even when no one else does. For the Cougars, she leaves behind a legacy of hard work, leadership, and, of course, unforgettable celebrations.
Emma will be in action this weekend for her final home games and senior night as the Cougars take on the Alberta Pandas on Friday at 8 PM MT and Saturday at 5 PM MT. If you can’t make it the game will be streamed live on CanadaWest.TV