Australian indoor volleyball representative Caitlin Bettenay is focused on making it to the Olympic Games and keeping her toes in the sand may help her do it.
The Coolum product was the youngest ever debutant for the Volleyroos, as a 17-year-old in 2016. She’s played around the world with them and is regarded as the top outside hitter in the country.
But Bettenay is keeping her avenues open in the sport, after recently emerging as a bright prospect in beach volleyball. She starred on the state and national circuit during the summer, with fellow Sunshine Coaster Georgia Johnson.
Bettenay and the Volleyroos failed to qualify for this year’s Tokyo Olympics, after a cut-throat Asian qualifying campaign 18 months ago.
That’s the last time they played on the international stage, due to COVID-19.
“It’s been super hard for us,” Bettenay said.
“We’ve had a couple of camps at the AIS (Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra) and we have a Volleyball Australia Academy Invitational next weekend, which a few of us will compete in, but it (game time) has been disrupted.”
The Asian championships are scheduled to be held in Philippines in September.
“I’m super keen to that. That’s the first chance we could go overseas so we’re very excited, and we could do a trans-Tasman Test (against New Zealand) leading up to that because there’s no quarantine needed for that.”
She has her eyes on the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, and she might have a better chance in beach volleyball.
“I am probably focused more on beach volleyball at the moment, because there’s more of an Olympic pathway opportunity for me, but I also love the opportunities to represent my country indoors,” she said.
“They (the two disciplines) are both important but my priority is to be a professional volleyball player, competing at the highest level I can.”
While it’s proved difficult for the Volleyroos to quality, it would not be easy for Bettenay to get to the Games in beach volleyball, but she’s optimistic.
“It is also tough because only four people (from Australia) get to go to the Olympics, but I’m still young and have so much time ahead of me. So I will get there.”
“I think it’s achievable with my work ethic and discipline, and with the team I’m in right now.”
Indeed, Bettenay and Johnson have made their mark on the Australian circuit since returning from the United States, where they played college volleyball for four years.
“It’s super exciting because we’re such a new team,” Bettenay said of the 22-year-olds who were born less than a week apart.
“We’ve competed here and there together over the years but not for a full season.
“We had a limited (2020/2021) preseason and our combination just kept building as the season went on.”
The pair won the Queensland, New South Wales and Victorian Opens, along with the Queensland Beach Volleyball Tour championships.
After a successful first domestic campaign together, they are keen to take things up a notch next time around.
“We’re super excited for next season, when we will have more training under our belt,” she said.
“We’re going to be more equipped to take it to the next level.”
They hope to also compete in world tour events overseas, should borders re-open.
Born in Townsville, Bettenay’s family moved to the Sunshine Coast when she was 8 years old and she formed her volleyball skills at the Mountain Creek State High Volleyball Academy.
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She also commuted to Brisbane five or six times per week to train for expert training.
“We’d drive there after school and train until 9.30pm or 10pm, and then drive home,” she said.
“That was my life during school years, and my dad’s.”
Bettenay then went to the US and played indoor volleyball with Portland State University for two years and beach and indoor volleyball San Jose State University for two years.
Bettenay and Georgia returned to Australia in 2020, amid the COVID-19 threat, and completed their studies externally. Bettenay, who has a bachelor in Kinesiology, is now also studying physiotherapy via University if Queensland.
She offers private coaching via PlayBook Coach and does some coaching at schools. She splits her time between Brisbane and Coolum.
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Her father Cam is one of the Australian under-17 team coaches and he helps at Mountain Creek State High.
The school now has a relationship with the QAS, so promising Sunshine Coast volleyballers don’t have to commute to Brisbane as much for top tier coaching.
It’s hoped Bettenay and Johnson can motivate other Sunshine Coast products in volleyball.
“We hope to inspire the next generation,” she said.
Bettenay and Johnson are seeking sponsorship opportunities. Email caitlindanielleb@gmail.com.
