Megan Kendziora says she's relying a little less on the tutelage of her Olympian mother nowadays, but she nevertheless has to give credit for a small assist. 

Kendziora, a 5-foot-10 left side from Edmonton's Strathcona High School, has committed to Phil Hudson and the Winnipeg Wesmen women's volleyball program as the latest member of the Class of 2023. 

She will enroll in the Faculty of Education and have five years of eligibility. 

Kendziora is the daughter of 1996 volleyball Olympian Kerri Buchberger and the niece of former NHLer Kelly Buchberger. 

Kendziora admits she relied on Mom's expertise as she developed into a volleyball talent in her own right, and it was Kerri who originally suggested reaching out to Winnipeg, a city she knows well from her playing days.

"I would say definitely I still use her as (a help)," Kendziora said. "If she's there watching, I'll definitely ask for her feedback and her input, but I think I've started to branch out from not really using her 24/7. When I was younger and learning, it was all her skills and how she taught. As you get older, you have different coaches, they want to see different things, different techniques and all that. She definitely still has some input and I like to hear her feedback because she has so much experience and I have her as a source, so it's nice to get feedback."

That initial contact to Hudson following U17 nationals resulted in a reply the next day and the wheels were in motion for Kendziora to eventually decide on Winnipeg. 

"Near the end of my U17 season after nationals I reached out and he got back right away, which I was really impressed by," she said. 

"… Winnipeg definitely moved higher up for me as a choice. I definitely was considering the college league here, but their offer piqued my interest."

Kendziora has competed for the Pandas club out of Edmonton, her high school program, and was on the 2022 U17 Team Alberta squad that won a Tier 2 silver at last year's Canada Cup. 

She has had a chance to tour the campus, meet the team, and train briefly with the squad, giving her ample evidence that she's made the right move. 

"My visit out to Winnipeg, I got to see how he wants his team structured, and I think that really crossed over with how I like to practise," she said. "He told me flat out when I was stepping in and getting a feel for what it's like to play with the girls: 'I don't tell athletes where to go, they run and they make sure they can get on the court first.' And that competitive nature I really liked."

Hudson likes the versatility that Kendziora brings to the floor. 

"Megan is an excellent all-around volleyball player," he said. "She is a very skilled, confident but humble player who possesses strong leadership skills and a work ethic that takes second place to no one. She is an excellent student, a great teammate and is motivated to succeeding in all aspects of being a student-athlete."

Now Kendziora is excited for the new opportunity that lay in front of her. 

"I'm really excited. I'm really happy. It's just a really good fit for me," she said. "It's going to help me develop as a person, moving away and learning how to be more independent and responsible. I think Winnipeg and the university is a great opportunity for me to develop."