Aussies Abroad #14 – Jarvis Page
In this installment of Aussies Abroad, Volleyball Australia caught up with Jarvis Page – who in 2024 signed to play with the Golden Bears at the University of Alberta in Canada.
First being introduced to volleyball at school in year 9, it didn’t take long for Jarvis’ passion for the sport to grow.
“In year 7 at St Columba Anglican, I was playing cricket, soccer, AFL and basketball, but in year 9 one of my P.E teachers David Beard set up a volleyball net on the basketball courts at lunchtime and asked if we would like to try volleyball,” Page said.
“I had never heard of or played volleyball so it was super new to me, but this is where my love for volleyball started and it’s only continued to grow ever since.
“When I first started playing volleyball in year 9, we didn’t have a school team yet so I didn’t play my first tournament until year 10 where I competed in a few NSW schools cups, and AVSC (Australian Volleyball Schools Cup) in 2019.
“I got selected for the Australian Volleyball Academy (AVA) program in 2022, and in July 2022 made the U20 Australian team and competed in Bahrain at the Asian Championships.
“In 2024 I was lucky enough to sign with one of the top universities in Canada and I have just finished my first year where we finished second in our conference and second at national championships.”
First hitting the court as a middle, Jarvis made the switch to setting three years ago, and the change has helped him achieve and aspire to even bigger goals.
“My proudest moment in my volleyball career was being selected for the national team,” he said.
“This has always been a dream of mine in any of the sports I’ve played but to be doing it in a sport I love makes it so much sweeter.
“I always wanted to compete at a high level when I was growing up, so competing internationally was something I always wanted to do and volleyball has given me the opportunity to play at a high level and overseas.
“When I moved over to Canada it was not a massive change as it was pretty similar to Australia.
“One thing that took a while to adjust to was the accents of the Canadians and them not being able to understand some words that I would say.
“I enjoy meeting new people and being a part of a team with people from different countries, and the level of play is also a big difference from Australia and the style of play is a lot faster than anything in Australia.
“In Canada I am currently studying arts, but want to become a school teacher and I want to finish my degree at my current university and then play professionally in Europe.
“Once I finish university, I am wanting to head to France but I also want to play in Italy in one of the top leagues in the world at some point in my career.”
Learning a lot as an athlete, it’s been the elements that translate to life off the court that Jarvis carries with him, and why he encourages everyone to get involved and enjoy the journey.
“As an athlete, it is much more than being able to play well or win the games,” he said.
“Competition is a part of it, but to be honest, it is the stuff off the court that really makes up what it means to be an athlete for me.
“It is about discipline, waking up early, working even when nobody sees you and juggling training, classes, assignments, and life.
“It is not easy, but it has taught me how to use my time and be responsible.
“To any new volleyballers – start with the basics, stay coachable, and don’t compare yourself to others.
“Embrace mistakes as learning moments, support your teammates, and stay consistent.
“Confidence builds over time – be patient, and most importantly, enjoy the journey and never lose your love for the game.”
