Posted with Permission of Brandon Sun Newspaper By Chris Jaster Brandon Sun The long road Brandon’s Blake Majcher has taken to get to the CIS level is making his experience with the Thompson Rivers WolfPack even more enjoyable. It wasn’t until November 2009, in Majcher’s Grade 12 year at Neelin High School, that he thought about pursuing a volleyball career at the post-secondary level. After being named tournament MVP while leading the Spartans to a provincial AAA high school title, Majcher committed to play volleyball at Medicine Hat College. He switched from outside hitter to libero during his two years in Alberta and that’s a decision that helped him get to the next level, which he’s enjoying. “It’s definitely sweeter (to get to the university level),” Majcher said on the weekend in his first trip home to Brandon as a member of the WolfPack. “I didn’t really have any expectations on me. I didn’t have any pressure on me coming out of high school. Playing in the CIS now is the cherry on the cake for me. It’s very exciting and a real honour to be able to play here. I’m not too focused on results right now. I’m just appreciating the journey.” This season, Majcher has seen a mixture of playing time as an outside hitter and at libero, although most of his playing time has come as the WolfPack’s defensive specialist. It’s a role Majcher is relishing and feels he’s excelling at because of his past experience as a setter and outside hitter. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="333"] Majcher with Medicine Hat Rattlers (photo courtesy of Rattlers Athletic Department)[/caption] It’s also a change in his mindset that has sparked some success. When Majcher first went to Medicine Hat, he wasn’t exactly overconfident in his abilities. But during his second year, he started to believe that he could play with anybody on the opposite side of the net. He now has the same frame of mind at Thompson Rivers, although it took a few weeks in the pre-season to regain that confidence. “It’s been a huge change for me,” he said. “I had a tough pre-season just getting used to it; getting used to the speed and power and everything. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Majcher got to meet Rick Hansen "The man in motion" earlier this year[/caption] Getting my head wrapped around that I can play at this level and knowing that I don’t need to be intimidated no matter who’s on the other side of the net (was important). … Now that it’s there, there’s no better feeling for me.” Through four matches, Majcher is tied for first on the WolfPack with 34 digs and has seven assists. The 6-foot-1 libero is trying not to put too much pressure on himself, but he wants to have success at the CIS level. “(I’m going to) just take things as they come to me,” said Majcher, whose parents Will and Susan hosted supper for the team prior to Saturday’s match. “I have to work hard to stay on top of this team and just keep pushing myself as hard as I can. Now that I’m in the CIS, hopefully more doors will open for me and more opportunities will come to me. I just haveto keep focusing on weekend after weekend.” » cjaster@brandonsun.com