You'd be hard-pressed to find any two athletes more proud of where they come from than Melissa Laluk and Sally Fozard.

After many years of representing the Yukon at various volleyball championships and tournaments, Laluk and Fozard moved to Alberta two years ago to attend Red Deer College and play for the Queens. And while the move to college volleyball was certainly an adjustment for the athletes, they showed everyone just what they're capable of this past season.

'It was a good year for me,' said Laluk in an interview from Red Deer. 'It was my most developmental year I think. I improved on my weaknesses. The first year, I wasn't up to the level, coming from the Yukon and going into college volleyball.'

Laluk and Fozard didn't get a chance to play much during their first year on the team, a year the Queens ended up finishing second in the provincial championships and missing out on a trip to nationals.

But it was a different story all around this year, as Laluk became a starter and posted some impressive stats.

She led the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) with an average of 3.53 kills per set, and was in the top 15 for blocks and digs per set. And while the Queens lost once again in the final at provincials, this time they were awarded one of just two wild cards given out for nationals.

'It was amazing,' said Laluk. 'We went to Japan this year as well, but nationals is something totally unique. It was just an amazing feeling to be there.

'Pretty much our goal was to just go to nationals, and once we got there, we kind of made our goals as we went.'

The Queens were ranked seventh going into the championships, and were somewhat behind the eight ball as two of their starters were nursing injuries. But whatever strategy they employed worked, as they returned home with silver medals around their neck.

'I personally was confident when they gave us that wild card, because we have such a strong team,' said Laluk. 'It was a good feeling to get there, to be the underdogs. I told the girls, I want a final out of this.''

Queens coach Talbot Walton said nationals was a thrilling experience, and the best thing that could have happened to the team.

'I've always had the goal that we need to do well in league first, and then see if we get to nationals. Once we got to nationals, my goal was just hopefully that we played well. So I think we definitely reached those goals this year.'

Walton said the Queens struggled a lot in their semifinal game against a team from Ontario, where they ended up being down two games to one before rallying for the victory.

'I think that one was a true testament to the character of our team.'

In the final, Red Deer was beaten by the team from Quebec, which has won the championship the past two years. Laluk said while the Queens aren't making any excuses for the loss, Quebec has a different rule when it comes to college volleyball, which may have given them a slight advantage.

'Everywhere else, you can only have four years of college experience and one of university, or three and two. So only five years in total. But in Quebec, you can do three years of college and five of university, so they can have a lot more experienced players.

'The final game was a good game though. It went to five sets, and it had its highlights.'

One of the main highlights for Laluk was being named to the first All-Star team at the national championships she had already been named to the ACAC All-Star squad. The Yukoner said she had a good week at nationals so she wasn't too surprised with the award.

'It's not like I expected it, but ... it just felt really good to be like, Yeah, this little Whitehorse girl came out of nowhere.'

'I was actually kind of hoping they'd say where you were really from when they announced the All-Star selections, instead of what college. I wanted everybody to know I was from Whitehorse.'

Walton said that's a common thought amongst the two Yukon athletes.

'That's what they say to everyone, We're from Whitehorse.' They're very proud of where they come from. They know they owe a lot to the program up there and I know Sally just owed a lot to (Vanier Crusaders and Yukon rep team coach) Russ Tait as well.'

Walton said the Yukon should be just as proud to have produced Laluk and Fozard, both of whom he's been very impressed with. He said the coaching staff knew from the first year that Laluk had tons of potential, it was just about gaining more experience, and this year, she responded in a big way.

'She just continued to play steady and she did exactly what the team needed her to do. When we needed a big play, she was there to do it. She played really well.

'She's definitely an offensive threat. I know that other teams put a lot of focus on trying to stop her and they don't have a lot of success. And her work ethic is second to none.'

When asked about Fozard, the first thing Walton said is 'You've got to meet her.

'She's a great young woman. Sally has improved tremendously over the two years she's been with us. She fit really well with the team and worked hard. The last couple of weeks, she'd been playing her best volleyball ever.'

Although Fozard wasn't a starter at nationals, she played in almost every game. And not only was she able to sustain the level of play coming off the bench, there were times when she increased it.

'She was very good,' Walton stated. 'It was very calming for me as a coach to know I had that option as a substitution.

'She gives her heart and soul to volleyball and this team. You've got to have those kind of players on the team to be successful.'

Laluk said it certainly helped having Fozard join her in Red Deer.

'Sally is the one person I've been with for so long. We tried out together for the team, which was great ... walking into the gym together, warming up together and just hanging out together, the Yukon girls. We were totally new.'

Which is why it may be somewhat hard for Laluk to leave both Red Deer and Fozard, as she heads to the University of Alberta next fall. She's talked to the volleyball coach at the university and is hoping to make the jump to the CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) level.

It's a dream the Whitehorse resident has been chasing since high school

'I'd like to take the chance and see if I can make it, see if I can step it up a notch,' said Laluk.

Fozard will also be leaving the Queens, taking a year off to travel. She'll be returning home first, to help coach the Yukon's Canada Games team this summer and take part in a local camp.

While Walton is sad to see both girls go, he doesn't have any doubt Laluk can make it at the university level, as long as the team is a good fit for her and she's happy.

If her first two years at college are any indication, Laluk will enjoy every bit of the next few years just as much as the first.

'You make friends that are probably going to be friends forever, you get so close to your team. If I didn't play, I never would have met my teammates.

'Just being on the team brings opportunities, opportunities I would never have had before.'

And perhaps those opportunities could take the Yukoner beyond university ball, onto the national team or even to the Olympics.

'I think that's in my dreams,' she laughed. 'But you never know, crazier things have happened.'