Ottawa Citizen
(Jne 10, 2003)

Kara Zakrzewska is a university graduate looking to
make a living on the beach

Zakrzewska is leaving the
University of Ottawa with a
degree in Human Kinetics,
but she hopes to pursue her
passion of beach volleyball
before having to join the real
workforce.

"My true love was indoor,
but I've been switching to
beach," said the 23-year-
old, who was an all-star with the Gee-Gees. "There's something about the
natural athleticism of beach volleyball that really attracted me."

Beach, as it is commonly referred to by players, is physically demanding and requires an intense commitment to training.

Luckily, commitment and athleticism are two things that come naturally to
Zakrzewska.

"No. 1 is the fact she has the physical ability," said Gee-Gees volleyball
coach Lionel Woods. "She's so determined to get better."

Woods began coaching Zakrzewska when she was just 15 and played for
the provincial team.

"I saw over 800 kids in Ontario and I was able to put her in the top 30,"
Woods said. "I think beach is the best route from here on."

Zakrzewska has already set her sights on the 2008 Olympics and Woods
says he has no doubt that she'll reach her goal.

Those who knew the Mississauga native as a young girl might be surprised
to learn of her passion for volleyball. As a youngster, Zakrzewska grew up
playing soccer and had no desire to take up a new sport. It wasn't until a
high school coach approached her during Grade 9 that she even considered
playing volleyball.

"I fell in love with it right away," she said. "From then on, I progressed
really quickly. I played in the Canada Games in 1995."

By the time she was a senior in high school, Zakrzewska was being heavily
recruited, but she chose to attend the University of Ottawa.

One of the main reasons she decided to become a Gee-Gee was the
opportunity to continue working with Woods, who had been coaching the
provincial team.

During her five-year university career, she was a five-time Academic
All-Canadian, was named to the Ontario all-star team four times and was
selected the University of Ottawa female athlete of the year in 2001.

Zakrzewska capped her career as a Canadian Interuniversity Sport
All-Canadian.

Zakrzewska began playing beach when she was in Grade 12, but got her
first taste of professional beach volleyball last summer.

"I fell into an opportunity when one partner couldn't go and I was asked to
play," she said. "It was great and I knew it was what I wanted."

Zakrzewska has now joined forces with Sarah Hogarth, a volleyball player
at the University of Toronto.

"It's our first year together and we'll see how it goes. Our compatibility will
be a big issue."

Both girls are determined to form a successful partnership, but know the
summer won't be a party at the beach.

"Only being two players makes it a lot more aerobic because you're forced
to cover a lot more area," Zakrzewska said. "The sand also makes it a lot
harder to jump."

Mental toughness is also crucial to an athlete's development in the beach
game.

"I think Kara will be really successful," said Woods. "She has a great
physical game and the mental ability to do it. Both she and Sarah are
complete players."

The pair's biggest challenge, until they get established on the circuit, could
very well be covering expenses. As newcomers to the beach tour,
Zakrzewska and Hogarth have yet to secure any major sponsors to help
pay for travel costs.

The pair is currently getting help from VSP Sports and is working on a
clothing deal with Adidas. In the meantime, they're raising money on their
own. Anyone interested in assisting the team can reach the girls at
olympic_beach_hopefuls@yahoo.com .