BURNABY, B.C. – With a large core of returners and several talented players red-shirting this season, SFU's volleyball program wasn't in need of a large recruiting class as they look towards 2024-25.

However, head coach Gina Schmidt still managed to bring in two of her top targets, as 6-foot-3 middle blocker Logan Remington and 6-2 outside hitter Katarina Damnjanovic will be joining the Red Leafs next fall.

"We are very excited to welcome Logan and Katarina into our SFU family next season," Schmidt said. "These two are not only great volleyball players, but they are also a great fit for our team's culture both on and off the court."

Hailing from Washington state, Remington comes in with impressive high school and club team resumes. Having been a starter all three years for Mercer Island High School's varsity squad, Remington was named Second-Team All-Kingco 3A in both her sophomore and junior seasons and has been named a team captain.

"As a standout middle blocker, Logan comes to us from one of the top clubs in Seattle," Schmidt said. "We look forward to having Logan utilize her size to be a constant presence at the net both offensively and defensively for the years to come. Logan is an excellent student and a great teammate as well."

Also starring with the North Pacific Juniors club team in Seattle, Remington amassed 242 kills and 125 blocks in 86 matches and doing so with a highly efficient .332 attack rate.

"I chose SFU because the coaching staff and players were so incredibly welcoming and kind when I first went up to see the campus," said Remington. "British Columbia is such a beautiful place, the campus and atmosphere really remind me of home. SFU volleyball is also a part of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, which is amazing, because I get to travel home to Seattle, and other cities in Washington, so my friends and family can visit and watch the team play. I am so incredibly excited to start a new chapter of my life surrounded by such amazing people at SFU."

When not training or on the court, Remington serves as the President of the Best Buddies club for Mercer Island, a non-profit organization that connects students with intellectual or developmental disabilities with students for one-on-one friendships. She also participates in business case competitions both locally and internationally, having qualified for Washington's state competition the last two years.

In Damnjanovic, the Red Leafs are adding an explosive outside hitter with a unique background. The attacker has spent her high school career in Serbia, though she did spend the majority of her childhood in Canada up until about 12 years old.

Damnjanovic was a gifted athlete from an early age, excelling in both alpine and Nordic skiing after taking them up at just three. She continued to compete after moving over to Europe, hitting the podium several times in various competitions. After adding volleyball to her repertoire in 2018, Damnjanovic immediately began to garner attention. Within three years, the outside hitter had earned a place on one of the top three club teams in the country, OK Tent. Damnjanovic played a key role as the program took a cadet age group national title back in 2022.

Outside of athletics, Damnjanovic is trilingual (Serbian, French, and English), and is an avid artist. One of her proudest accomplishments is that one of her oil pastels was recognized by the Chinese embassy in Belgrade and has been displayed throughout the Balkans.

"As a Canadian living in Serbia, Katarina brings a unique perspective and valuable international experience to our program," said Schmidt. "She is a strong, physical outside hitter with a well-rounded skill set that will allow her to contribute at either pin. Katarina also has a strong work ethic which she demonstrates both on the court and in the classroom."

Damnjanovic, who plans to study kinesiology with an eye towards medicine, reciprocated Schmidt's high praise when discussing her decision to make SFU her home for the next few years.

"Not only was I drawn to the team's energy, but also to the academic programs that will allow me to pursue my goals in medicine," said Damnjanovic. "I am excited to be coached by Gina Schmidt and learn from her personal experiences as a former professional athlete. I'm stoked to be starting my next chapter in Burnaby as a Red Leaf!"

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