By Larry Moko
'Captain Canada' is headed to the United States.
Avaya Maga, who served as captain of Canada's entry at last July's NORCECA U19 girls' continental volleyball championship in Central America, officially agreed to an NCAA Division I scholarship offer last week.
The Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School product and star setter will be soon be on the court representing the Oklahoma Sooners.
Maga is graduating from BT early, having completed summer courses each year to finish high school in just 3.5 years. She will begin her university journey at the start of the second semester this year.
"It feels pretty nice," Maga said of the cowboy hat that she donned during her signing ceremonies at the Tonnos gym on Friday. "I'm super excited."
In attendance, too, to show their support were members of her family, coaches, teammates and friends.
Her father, Steve, and mother, Alvisia both were all-star selections when they played university basketball and volleyball, respectively, for the McMaster Marauders. They also teach at Tonnos.
Alvisia has coached her daughter for the past three seasons when the Titans captured an OFSAA gold medal (in Barrie) and a silver medal (in Markham). The Titans during that stretch reached the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic league final each year.
"This is a monumental occasion and moment for her," Alvisia, said. "It's the pinnacle off what she's worked so hard for."
Maga helped Canada win a silver medal at the tournament held in Tegucigalpa, Honduras -- falling only 3-1 to the United States in the final. It was her first international competition.
"It was the best experience I've had so far with volleyball," Maga said. "So cool. It was really special for me to compete internationally wearing my country's leaf on my chest."
That second-place performance also qualified Canada for this summer's 19U world championships in Croatia and Serbia.
Maga hopes to be a part of that squad.
Two years ago as a 15-year-old, Maga travelled to Richmond, B.C. to train daily with the National Excellence Program for four months.
Overseeing her development along the way, as well, has been her Halton Region Volleyball Club coach, Peter Wong.
"In 2023 we won the national championship at 17U," Wong said. "And in 2024 we won the national championship at 18U. Avaya was an underage player playing for both of those teams -- so she was 16U age playing 17U and 17U playing 18U.
"She was the national MVP across the whole country for both of those tournaments."
Wong says Maga spends a lot of time in the gym perfecting her technique.
"I think the thing that makes Avaya special is her work ethic," he said. "She has the ability to manage all aspects of the game. We ask her to run one of the most complex and fast offences in the country and she does an amazing job of that.
"She has a great idea of where everybody on the court needs to be at all times. Not just her own position."
Mom says her daughter will only play part of the season for the Titans because high school volleyball extends into March.
"We're expecting great things," Alvisia said. "Then we're hoping some of our other players can step up and start to fill the role that she would normally fill for us."
When asked about her future plans at OU and beyond, Maga said: "I'm going to go into business. Specifically, the finance route. But I'll figure that out once I'm there.
"After university I definitely want to play professional volleyball. That's one of my goals."
Photos by R.F. (Bob) Butrym, RFB Sport Photography
More photos on the HWCDSB Athletics Facebook page here
