Quinn Pelland's name is etched throughout the Mount Royal women's volleyball record book. During her six seasons as a Cougar from 2017-23, she became MRU's all-time leader in career assists and digs, ranks second in program history in sets played, and owns the three highest single-season assist totals in school history. Since graduating, Pelland has continued her volleyball journey professionally overseas while earning opportunities with Team Canada. In her own words, she reflects on the experiences, challenges, and memories that have shaped her career both on and off the court.

#8 Quinn Pelland

For a few fortunate athletes, there is a moment in their career when something that once felt impossible suddenly becomes real.

For me, that moment didn’t happen when I first stepped onto a professional court overseas. It didn’t happen with Team Canada either. Honestly, it didn’t even happen early in my university career.

It happened during my fifth year at MRU.

That was the first time I really allowed myself to think: maybe I can do this professionally.

Before then, pro volleyball wasn’t something I spent much time thinking about. I loved the game, I loved competing, and I loved being part of a team, but I never mapped out this huge professional career in my head. I think part of that is because my time at MRU always felt so meaningful on its own. I was exactly where I wanted to be.

I chose MRU because my older sister Taylor played there as an outside hitter, and if I’m being honest, the chance to play with her meant everything to me. There’s something really special about sharing that experience with family. Some of my best memories from volleyball will always involve those years together.

What I didn’t realize when I first arrived at MRU was how much the program would shape me outside of volleyball too.

University athletics pushes you in ways you don’t expect. You learn how to experience challenges and recover quickly. You learn how to balance pressure, school, relationships, injuries, expectations and everything else life throws at you. Looking back now, I can confidently say that my time at MRU taught me just as much about myself as it did about volleyball. In fact, I met some of my closest friends there and everyone else I met along the way was preparing me for the next level.

By the time my sixth year came around, I knew I wanted to try playing professionally. I knew this was something I wanted to commit my life to. So when opportunities overseas started presenting themselves, I remember feeling almost shocked that everything was actually falling into place.

I was incredibly grateful.

Not just for the opportunities themselves, but for the people around me who supported me through the uncertainty of it all. Moving overseas can feel exciting and terrifying at the exact same time. I decided I would commit to one year because I knew I’d regret it if I never gave it a shot.

I’m very happy I made that decision.

Since then, volleyball has taken me to places I never imagined I’d get to experience.

I played in Aix-en-Provence in France, which is honestly one of my favourite places in the world. The city is absolutely beautiful. There’s this calmness and elegance there that’s hard to describe unless you’ve experienced it. Walking through the streets after practice, sitting at cafés, soaking in the lifestyle, it all felt surreal at times.

I also played in Tenerife, Spain, which is an incredible island filled with amazing people. I’ve been very fortunate to live and compete in some truly beautiful places.

But professional volleyball also challenges you in ways people don’t always see.

The biggest adjustment for me has probably been learning how to manage the mental side of the game. At the professional level, everyone is talented. Everyone is athletic. What separates players a lot of the time is mindset, confidence and consistency.

Being far away from home also gives you a lot of time to reflect.

When you’re living overseas, away from your family and your closest friends, you grow up quickly. You spend a lot of time learning about yourself. As difficult as that can sometimes be, it’s also been one of the most beneficial parts of this journey for me.

I think MRU prepared me really well for all of it.

We built a strong program during my years there, and the level of competition helped prepare me for the jump to professional volleyball. I also had opportunities to grow into leadership roles, which helped me tremendously once I started playing with teammates from all over the world. Learning how to connect with different personalities and cultures is such a huge part of professional sports.

At the same time, getting opportunities with Team Canada has pushed me even further.

Representing your country is difficult to put into words. Every time I step onto the court wearing the maple leaf, I feel incredibly proud. I’ve had the chance to play with and against some of the best players in the world, and every experience has challenged me to improve.

National team environments force you outside your comfort zone every single day. You either grow or you get left behind.

I’m grateful for every second of it.

Looking ahead, I’m excited for what’s next. This upcoming season I’ll be heading to the United States to play in the MLV, and I’m really excited about both the level of competition and being a little closer to home again.

Outside of volleyball, I’ve also been fortunate to build something meaningful with my sister through Rare Kin, the apparel brand we founded together. 

Rare Kin started as a creative side project between the two of us. Taylor is the true creative force behind it, she’s an incredibly talented graphic designer and one of the most artistic people I know. We wanted to create apparel that actually meant something to us personally. We started with sweatsuits and recently designed bathrobes inspired by our great-grandma.

That personal connection is what makes it special. Someday there might be an opportunity to blend my love of volleyball and apparel into another interesting opportunity. I think sport and fashion naturally connect because both are expressions of identity and creativity. We’re still exploring what that could look like, but I’m excited to see where it goes.

Even with everything happening in my life right now, I still do my best to keep tabs on the MRU program whenever I can. I don’t get to watch as much as I’d like, but I’ll always care deeply about that team. It’s really fun seeing a new generation of players step into bigger roles and continue building the program forward.

One day, I hope I can give back to the program that helped me get where I am today.

And honestly, there’s no bigger opportunity ahead for MRU women’s volleyball than hosting nationals in 2028.

That’s going to be monumental for the school and the program.

Hosting nationals is something athletes dream about for years. To compete for a championship in front of a home crowd is incredibly special, and I know those players will feel that energy every single day of the tournament.

If I could give them one piece of advice, it would simply be this: enjoy it.

Have pride in representing your school and your city. Chase excellence, compete as hard as you can and embrace every moment. Because years later, the thing you’ll remember most won’t just be medals or results.

It’ll be the people beside you and the memories you created together.