Chayse Victoria's journey with McMaster women's volleyball has been anything but linear. From a nervous first-year setter navigating COVID restrictions to an OUA champion, injured captain, and student-artist reflecting on her career, her five years in maroon have been defined by growth, resilience, and perspective.

Victoria's volleyball story began long before she stepped on campus. "Volleyball was like the first and only sport I've ever played," she said, recalling how she started playing rep in grade seven with the Halton Hurricanes. She stayed with the same club from age 12 through the end of high school, building not only skill but identity within the sport. For years, she dreamed of playing in the NCAA, but by grade 12 her priorities shifted. "Once I came to the conclusion that I didn't want to go to the States anymore, volleyball was more of an 'if it happens, it happens,'" she explained. Academics came first, and McMaster offered both.

Her arrival on campus was unconventional. Because of COVID, she committed without ever touring in person. "I never actually physically met them until I came here," she said of the coaching staff. Her first year was equally unusual. With restrictions still in place, she had limited on-campus experiences and no traditional training camp. As a first-year setter, she began behind two upper-year players and saw limited action early. Then, midseason, both setters graduated and did not return for the second semester. Suddenly, Victoria was thrust into a significant role.

"I was excited for the opportunity, but I also was like, I have no idea what I'm doing yet," she admitted. Rather than shrinking under pressure, she leaned into it. "I just want to play with joy and try my best out here," she said. That mindset allowed her to grow quickly and find confidence at the U SPORTS level.

By her third year, her role evolved again. She served primarily as a serving substitute, a position that required sharp mental preparation. "I would have to be ready to go in at any time and then be able to execute for like three rotations and then get subbed out again," she explained. It demanded poise and selflessness. "I need to go in, do my job, and then come out and help support the team that way," she said.

That season ended with heartbreak. McMaster reached the OUA championship but fell short in the final. Although the Marauders still competed at nationals as hosts, the provincial loss lingered. The defeat fueled a collective hunger within a veteran-heavy group determined to finish the job.

In her fourth year, that hunger translated into results. "We all had just communal trust throughout the season that this is our goal and we'll do anything it takes to get to that goal," Victoria said. The team approached the playoffs with a singular focus. "We would just come into our huddles and be like, we need to win this," she recalled. This time, they delivered.

When McMaster captured the OUA championship, the moment was deeply personal for Victoria. "It was honestly like nothing I've ever experienced before," she said. Having fallen short at the club level growing up, the victory felt like redemption. "It almost felt like I was winning the medal for my younger self," she reflected. Years of close calls and hard work culminated in that banner.

With one championship secured, her senior season was supposed to be about building on that success. Instead, adversity intervened. An injury at the end of summer sidelined her for the first half of her final year. "I haven't ever been injured enough where my injury takes me out for that long of play," she said. The timing was crushing. "It obviously was not ideal timing for an injury," she admitted, especially entering her last season after winning the OUAs.

As a captain, watching from the bench was emotionally taxing. "It's tough having to be on the sidelines," she said. Yet the setback shifted her perspective. "Being able to take a second and look back and appreciate the time that I've had with the program while being injured… helped me become the player I am right now," she reflected.

She found new ways to lead. "I had to find unique ways to help our team be successful from communicating what I'm seeing off the sidelines," she explained. The injury also strengthened relationships. "It definitely created an opportunity for me to get to know the girls a lot better," she said.

When she returned in the second half of the season, stepping back onto the court was surreal. "It was nerve-wracking for sure," she admitted. She had not played in a regular-season match since nationals the year before. "I felt rusty for sure going into it," she said. But she leaned on the trust around her. "I knew everyone around me was there to support me, so I felt like I could just play freely," she explained. Her mindset was simple: "Anything to get the win at the end of the day is important".

Off the court last year, Victoria completed one of the most meaningful projects of her academic career. A Studio Arts major, she created a thesis exhibition titled "Lifeline" at the McMaster Museum of Art. The installation recreated the emotional atmosphere of a locker room while presenting memorabilia from her volleyball journey.

"It felt like you were in a locker room but also in a memorabilia space," she described. The exhibit featured framed photos from her earliest days playing at age 12, alongside medals, team photos, and family images. A locker installation included shoes and a corset top made from volleyball footwear. "It was kind of just a mix-match of everything that I felt got me to where I was today," she said.

The project intentionally blended audio and sculptural elements to immerse viewers in what she described as the sacred space of a locker room. By pairing childhood images with university milestones, she created a timeline of growth. Hosting the installation in a museum space elevated her personal athletic narrative into a broader artistic conversation.

Family has remained the constant thread through every chapter of her journey. Their presence was visible within Lifeline, woven into the photographs and memories displayed on the walls. From early mornings at club tournaments to OUA championship celebrations, their support never wavered. During her injury this season, that support system became even more meaningful, reinforcing perspective and resilience as she worked her way back.

Now, with playoffs beginning this weekend, Victoria and the Marauders return with experience, belief, and unfinished business. The focus is collective. "I think as a collective, everyone wants to win another banner for the people who were here last year," she said. "And those who are new… we all just want to win, and that's a very communal feeling that we had last year". As quarterfinals approach, her final chapter in maroon is driven by the same mindset that delivered a championship before.

The Marauders Women's Volleyball team will take the Burridge this Friday at 7 PM as they take on the Windsor Lancers in the Quigley Cup quarter-finals.