Veltman Sisters Share Court as Opponents for First Time

The Veltman family was up in the stands at the Alumni Hall in London, Ont., clad in a mix of Ryerson Rams and Western Mustangs gear, but when the Mustangs won on Sunday they all had something to cheer about.

Western University’s victory over Ryerson gave Kelsey Veltman her first win over her sister, Lauren, in an official Ontario University Sport volleyball game. Kelsey, a third year student and the 2014-15 and 2015-16 OUA West player of the year, has been playing volleyball in the OUA conference for three years.

The rents are game day ready!! Season opener vs. The sis #PurpleReign #StangGang ???????? pic.twitter.com/QOUrsiEPlr

— Kelsey Veltman (@Kveltz) October 30, 2016

The time has come ????????vs.???????? #sistalove #notforlong pic.twitter.com/Sh6C2jhM0D

— Lveltz (@_laurenveltman) October 30, 2016

While Kelsey has made a name for herself within the OUA as one of the top competitors, this was only Lauren’s second official regular season game competing for Ryerson after the Rams lost to the University of Toronto Friday night.

Regardless of the fact that it was only Lauren’s second game, it served as a major milestone for the family. This was Lauren’s first time facing off against Kelsey as opponents, and as far back as Lauren can remember, Kelsey has always been a part of her volleyball experience.

Kelsey was playing for the Eclipse Volleyball Club prior to Lauren entering the sport. Kelsey remembers being 14-years-old, competing with her team and group of friends when her mother suggested that Lauren play volleyball as well.

“I never really wanted her to play with me,” said Kelsey. Lauren too recognized that Kelsey wasn’t too fond of her being part of the team at that time, “I don’t think Kelsey was too happy about that, but I enjoyed it a lot.”

Being part of the practice squad for Kelsey’s team is what ultimately hooked her on the sport. “It was something that made me choose to play volleyball,” said Lauren.

Lauren eventually began to play volleyball herself, joining the Pakmen Volleyball Club in Mississauga, Ont. Honing her skills with her club team, when Lauren entered high school she found herself on the same team as Kelsey for the first time, and the two finally got a chance to play together.

“I liked it in high school a lot more than when we played club together,” Kelsey said.

In Lauren’s first year of high school the team managed to qualify for the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations ‘AA’ Championships, a tournament that the school had historically only sent grade 11 and 12 student-athletes too. Kelsey, recognizing Lauren’s contribution to the team, and managed to convince her high school coaches to bring Lauren to the tournament.

“I got to play and I found it really helpful because she [Kelsey] gave me tips on what to do,” said Lauren. “It was really great to have her there because she was such a great influence for me. I really enjoyed it because it was just nice having someone I knew there.”

Kelsey proved to be a top role model for Lauren, being named to the Team Ontario 18U Indoor squad to compete in the summer of 2013. Right around this time Kelsey had accepted an offer to compete and study at Western University while Lauren was beginning to make a name for herself in her own right.

The 6-foot-two middle blocker managed plenty of  success, being named an Ontario Volleyball Association all-star multiple times and even being named as a Team Ontario Athlete in July of 2014. Prior to that, in June of 2014, both Kelsey and Lauren were selected by the Ontario Volleyball Association as part of the provinces top 90 athletes to attend a week-long high performance training camp during the first week of July.

While Lauren was on the come-up, Kelsey was making a name for herself as one of the top players in Ontario, and one of the best players in the OUA conference and the Canadian Interuniversity Sport. In her rookie season she was named to the OUA West All-Rookie team and the CIS All-Rookie team on top of being awarded an OUA West first team all-star and both the OUA West rookie and player of the year.

After Kelsey’s second year where she was once again the OUA West player of the year and was named an OUA West first team all-star and a CIS first team all-star, Lauren was getting prepared to submit her University applications and commit to a program. With the level of success that she had had, Lauren had endless options for schools. Kelsey wanted her to go to Western so that they could play together. Ultimately, Lauren picked Ryerson.

“It would have been amazing to play with her and have a sister dynasty going on, but in the end…I really loved Ryerson,” said Lauren. While factors such as being closer to home and the school itself played into Lauren’s decision, part of it was based on the success that Kelsey had in her previous two seasons with Western. “I feel like if I went there it would just be a lot of pressure for me, I feel like people would expect me to live up to her expectations.”

Now in her first season with Ryerson, although they’re competitors, Kelsey is still a huge role model for Lauren.

“Seeing her be so successful…and how she has made a name for herself has made me want to aspire to be like that. It makes me want to train harder, work harder, and every day in practice I’m thinking, ‘is that something Kelsey would do?’”

Prior to their game today, Lauren and Kelsey got to face off in an exhibition game in Vancouver where Western claimed the win. It was their first time every really facing off against each other.

“It was really weird,” said Kelsey. “In B.C. wet both got on the court and we were lined up against each other, we just gave each other this look and I was like ‘stop that’ I don’t want to be that kind of sister.”

While still serving as a major inspiration for her sister, Lauren said prior to today’s game that she would love the chance to be able to beat her sister. “It would mean a lot,” said Lauren. “Just because it shows that ‘yeah, I’m ready for this, I’m at your level.’”

If Lauren wants the chance to prove that she’s at Kelsey’s level this season, both Western and Ryerson will need to qualify for the OUA Championships in March where once again the family would likely be in the stands, split, cheering on both teams, and both girls as they work towards further establishing their own playing careers and futures in the sport.