Danielle Hyde (nee Gaudet), a four-time Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association All-Canadian in Women’s Volleyball, was inducted into the CCAA Hall of Fame in the Athlete Category.
Hyde is one of the most decorated student-athletes to ever play in the PACWEST. The former Malaspina (now Vancouver Island University) Mariners setter was the first athlete in any sport, male or female, to be awarded four straight CCAA All-Canadian awards.
“Danielle was a standout student-athlete at Malaspina,” said Stephanie White, Director High Performance Sport, Recreation and Physical Literacy at Vancouver Island University. “Her success was not just on the court as a volleyball player but in the classroom as well.”
Hyde was also twice named a CCAA Academic All-Canadian.
She led the Mariners to a CCAA bronze medal in 1998-99 and a silver medal in 1999-00. Hyde was twice named a first-team All-Star at CCAA Nationals and was also named a second-team All-Star once.
In 1999-00, Hyde capped off an incredible season by being named the CCAA Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year.
Looking back, a highlight that now stands out for Hyde was being named a CCAA All-Canadian in her rookie season with the Mariners. At the time, Hyde didn’t really know what it all meant.
“I was young and naïve and had no idea what I journey I was embarking on,” she said.
Among so many memorable moments, Hyde recalls a heartbreaking, four-set loss to the host Grande Prairie Wolves at the 2001 CCAA Women’s Volleyball National Championship. Hyde and the Mariners would eventually fall to Mount Royal College in a five-set bronze medal match, her last in the CCAA.
“I’ll never forget playing in Grande Prairie in our National semi-final in front of a packed, hostile house,” she said. “We had ‘the team’ to do it that year, and although we fell short, the feeling of competing at that level will never be forgotten.”
But what Hyde remembers most are the small things – the road trips and team dinners for example.
“The feeling of being a part of something – being a part of the Mariner family and playing the sport I love, while getting an education was pretty amazing,” she said.
“I feel so fortunate to have been a part of such a successful program; one that continues to be successful – even today,” said Hyde, who is now the Sports, Facilities and Campus Recreation Manager in the department of Athletics and Recreation at VIU.
“Danielle is a proven winner,” said White. “To this day, she has remained an active member of our VIU community."
