Julia (Scarlett) Olfert

My journey to becoming a Panda.

I was supposed to be a University of Saskatchewan Huskie! I was recruited to go to the UofS and I played Canada Games for Saskatchewan. By grade eleven, I was committed to go to UofS and play for Mark Tennant with Laurie Eisler as assistant coach. Something changed my mind in my grade twelve year, most of it related to wanting to become a physiotherapist. I realized that the University of Alberta offered great alternatives to physiotherapy, if I didn’t get in that program. My goal was to keep my options open. Thus, I stepped into the world of Suzy Smith as a University of Alberta Panda volleyball player. Volleyball was non stop finishing up my first year with my Saskatchewan Canada Games team winning gold and getting into Physiotherapy school that first summer. I played my first two years under Suzy Smith but chose to take a break during my 2^nd year of Physio school as the work load was heavy and I needed to find some joy in playing again. I still played club with Barb Ouellett, Kathy Tough and that generation of female athletes. I went back to playing Panda volleyball when Laurie came and talked to me. I was all in! With Laurie as my coach, I played two more years (1991-1993). It was such a great time! I was so fortunate to play with Shelley Brewster, Barb Donadt, the Pastawka sisters and a great group of characters. Then, in my second 2 years, I was able to play with some great young athletes, like Katrina Von Sass, Cheri Lansdowne, Christy, Joanna Jenkins, Jillian Oborne and of course Deb and Sherry too! Volleyball is never in the end about volleyball. It really is about the girls you meet and the friendships that you have. It is an incredible medium for life.

What does Laurie Eisler mean to the Pandas program?

I was watching a university match a few years ago and I snuck up to see Laurie. Isn’t it incredible that she always remembers who you are, where you are from, every single player that you played with and the fact that she still has the staff surrounding her right from the beginning? The team was getting ready to start warm-up, so I said that I better take off. Laurie then proceeded to bring me into the team meeting and I was surrounded by all these giants. Laurie said “I want to introduce Julie Scarlett, this is one of my players, a passing middle, that none of you ever will be!”

Now as a coach, I have this great mentor that brings female athletes together in this amazing program, that to this day, I am still proud to be a part of. Laurie is amazing and I am tremendously grateful to have that as part of my life. I wish that I had her close. If I was in Edmonton, I would be a part of the Panda program coaching. I love the fire that Laurie creates in her athletes. You can see that they are passionate about what they are doing. To this day, I still try and create this for my athletes and I want them to have that same sense of direction and drive. Laurie is the most charismatic woman I have ever met. She knows what it means to make you feel like you are a part of her program. And it is her program. She would never claim this, but it is just truth! What she has created from the ground up, with me and others being a part of the ground. Let’s be honest, we weren’t that good in the start. I remember asking her in her first few years how long she was going to coach for. At that time, she said 20-25. Laurie said why would I want to do anything else?

What am I doing now?

In 1998-1999, I moved out to Winnipeg to live closer to my brother. The volleyball community is small and wide. Playing beach with girls I had played indoor against in University became another connection that would last. I met my husband Rob Olfert through beach volleyball. I partnered up with Renelda Dimitruk while he played with Trevor Dimitruk. We traveled across the country in a VW van playing beach volleyball for summers. I have been working as a physio since 1999. The truth is, you couldn’t make money playing beach. My babies were born in 2001 and 2003. Isaiah is the oldest. He is my boy. I love that he is a kid with a great sense of humour and works hard for what he wants. Isaiah is such a great mix of Rob and I. He has tremendous character, dedication to his sport and has created a real pride in me. Next year, Isaiah, will be going to play volleyball at TWU while working towards an education degree, just like his Papa. Brooklyn is my youngest. She is more than I ever expected in a daughter. I was worried if I had a girly girl that I wouldn’t know what to do. Brooklyn is one of those kids that competes in everything that she wants to. She is all athlete. She plays indoor and beach volleyball. She also runs track, plays field hockey, soccer, and hockey. Both the kids play high school hockey, which is a really nice mix! Brooklyn is in grade ten. She will always be herself, no matter who is around her. What a gift this is. Rob is teaching physical education and a little bit of math and health to Kindergarten to grade eight students. Both Rob and I love coaching volleyball, whether it is beach,high school, club, or provincial team. A couple of years ago, when my kids were getting back into volleyball, I was very excited. The success and happiness in my life is related to this sport because you are truly with the people in which you are most alike.