Acadia women’s basketball coach Bev Greenlaw will tell you none of his Axewomen players has worked harder this off-season than Alexandra (Allie) Berry.
For her part, Berry is committed to making her second year as an Acadia basketball player more satisfying than her first.
“My goal for this coming year,” she says, “is to make myself a more versatile, all-round player.”
The 18-year-old Yarmouth native came to Acadia last September ready to contribute to the team, but she suffered an injury in the pre-season, missed most of the first half and never really managed to find the rhythm she wanted.
“I wasn’t happy with how we fell in the rankings,” she says, due mainly to injuries to some key players, “but I really enjoyed the experience and being part of the team.”
She finished last season already looking forward to 2014-2015, and has spent the off-season so far “working hard, and in the gym as often as I can.”
She is looking forward to a more successful season, both personally and for the Axewomen as a team.
“Hopefully, we’ll do better this year. We’re still young, but we’re all a year older, and hopefully better. Hopefully, the rest of my teammates are working just as hard, and we’ll be ready to go when the time comes,” she said.
Runs in the family
Berry is the third member of her immediate family to be an Acadia varsity athlete. Her sister Erica spent five years at Acadia, during which time she played volleyball and basketball. Her sister Alyssa played volleyball.
While there was no direct influence from her sisters to attend Acadia, she adds, “they both liked it here, and had good experiences here.”
Berry also played volleyball throughout junior high and high school, but when the time came to choose, her heart was with the hoops.
“I chose basketball, which is my favourite. I like the fast pace of the game, and that it’s more physically demanding.”
Berry first encountered Greenlaw directly when she made the provincial U-17 team, which he coached and which went on to earn a silver medal at nationals.
“He’s a great coach, very knowledgeable about the game,” she said of Greenlaw, adding that the chance to play for him was another reason she chose Acadia.
Berry’s experience with the U-17 provincial team “was when I decided I’d rather play basketball at the university level, instead of trying to play volleyball.”
Great experiences
Berry is studying community development, and this summer, is working with the Valley African Nova Scotian Development Association (VANSDA).
Working at the VANSDA C@P site, she is doing a lot with computers, designing workshops, assisting people in using computers and social media and helping out around the office.
Berry plans to spend five years at Acadia – “I’d like to be able to play my full five years,” she says – and right now, she isn’t 100 per cent sure what she wants to do after she graduates, although education is a possibility.
“Both my parents are teachers, and my sister Alyssa is taking education at Acadia,” she adds.
Coming out of high school, Allie received interest from a number of AUS schools, including Dal, SMU and Cape Breton, as well as Acadia. “In the end, I chose Acadia, and I’m really glad I did. I really love Acadia, and I love the basketball program.”
Eye-opener
Berry found the adjustment from high school to university basketball an eye-opening experience, which is a big reason why she has been working so hard this summer.
“My shot form and shooting range needed improvement, so I’ve been working on that,” she said. “Ball handling was another thing I’ve been trying to improve.”
The extra time she is putting in is a combination of her own initiative and a suggestion from Greenlaw.
“I knew I had to improve, but I also knew I needed coach’s help to get where I wanted to be,” she said.
In terms of her quest to become a better all-round player, she’s hopeful “the extra work I’m doing this summer is going to get me there.”
The team, she added, has a similar goal.
“Our goal is to be better this year than we were last year.”
Acadia women’s basketball coach Bev Greenlaw will tell you none of his Axewomen players has worked harder this off-season than Alexandra (Allie) Berry.
For her part, Berry is committed to making her second year as an Acadia basketball player more satisfying than her first.
“My goal for this coming year,” she says, “is to make myself a more versatile, all-round player.”
The 18-year-old Yarmouth native came to Acadia last September ready to contribute to the team, but she suffered an injury in the pre-season, missed most of the first half and never really managed to find the rhythm she wanted.
“I wasn’t happy with how we fell in the rankings,” she says, due mainly to injuries to some key players, “but I really enjoyed the experience and being part of the team.”
She finished last season already looking forward to 2014-2015, and has spent the off-season so far “working hard, and in the gym as often as I can.”
She is looking forward to a more successful season, both personally and for the Axewomen as a team.
“Hopefully, we’ll do better this year. We’re still young, but we’re all a year older, and hopefully better. Hopefully, the rest of my teammates are working just as hard, and we’ll be ready to go when the time comes,” she said.
Runs in the family
Berry is the third member of her immediate family to be an Acadia varsity athlete. Her sister Erica spent five years at Acadia, during which time she played volleyball and basketball. Her sister Alyssa played volleyball.
While there was no direct influence from her sisters to attend Acadia, she adds, “they both liked it here, and had good experiences here.”
Berry also played volleyball throughout junior high and high school, but when the time came to choose, her heart was with the hoops.
“I chose basketball, which is my favourite. I like the fast pace of the game, and that it’s more physically demanding.”
Berry first encountered Greenlaw directly when she made the provincial U-17 team, which he coached and which went on to earn a silver medal at nationals.
“He’s a great coach, very knowledgeable about the game,” she said of Greenlaw, adding that the chance to play for him was another reason she chose Acadia.
Berry’s experience with the U-17 provincial team “was when I decided I’d rather play basketball at the university level, instead of trying to play volleyball.”
Great experiences
Berry is studying community development, and this summer, is working with the Valley African Nova Scotian Development Association (VANSDA).
Working at the VANSDA C@P site, she is doing a lot with computers, designing workshops, assisting people in using computers and social media and helping out around the office.
Berry plans to spend five years at Acadia – “I’d like to be able to play my full five years,” she says – and right now, she isn’t 100 per cent sure what she wants to do after she graduates, although education is a possibility.
“Both my parents are teachers, and my sister Alyssa is taking education at Acadia,” she adds.
Coming out of high school, Allie received interest from a number of AUS schools, including Dal, SMU and Cape Breton, as well as Acadia. “In the end, I chose Acadia, and I’m really glad I did. I really love Acadia, and I love the basketball program.”
Eye-opener
Berry found the adjustment from high school to university basketball an eye-opening experience, which is a big reason why she has been working so hard this summer.
“My shot form and shooting range needed improvement, so I’ve been working on that,” she said. “Ball handling was another thing I’ve been trying to improve.”
The extra time she is putting in is a combination of her own initiative and a suggestion from Greenlaw.
“I knew I had to improve, but I also knew I needed coach’s help to get where I wanted to be,” she said.
In terms of her quest to become a better all-round player, she’s hopeful “the extra work I’m doing this summer is going to get me there.”
The team, she added, has a similar goal.
“Our goal is to be better this year than we were last year.”
