WritingHERstory: Wahlgren's international volleyball voyage

Forged by Team Canada, now flourishing in Blacksburg. Virginia Tech volleyball's Viktoria Wahlgren has competed across numerous countries during her global athletic career, preparing her to take on any level of competition.  

It hasn't come without hours of sacrifice, dedication and separation from family. Wahlgren's mother had played volleyball at the University of Tulsa, inspiring Wahlgren to get involved in the sport at a young age. After trying out for her club team in sixth grade, she was hooked on the competitive nature of the sport. 

The Burlington, Ontario native moved away from her hometown at age 16 to play for Team Canada with the Canadian National Excellence Program. She was chosen as one of the top 16 U18 women's volleyball players in Canada for the 2020-21 season to participate in a full-time training camp. The camp allowed her to train at the Richmond Olympic Oval in Vancouver while attending school online during the COVID-19 shutdowns. 

Wahlgren worked her way to becoming one of the top setters in Canada. During her junior and senior years of high school, she represented Team Canada on the Junior National Team at the U18 World Championships in Durango, Mexico. 

"Playing against various international teams was a really neat experience for me, because volleyball styles differ greatly worldwide,” Wahlgren explained. “For example, North American volleyball features tall attackers who swing hard, while Asian teams utilize smaller and scrappy players known for strong defense and creative scoring. So, getting to play with new teammates and against high-level competition abroad was crucial for my growth as a player." 

The talented setter also had the experience of playing in La Paz, Mexico, as a member of the Canadian National Team participating in the U21 Norceca Championship, as well as Shanghai later, her favorite travel destination. Not only did the travel help her improve on the court, but it gave her the chance to sightsee, experience new cultures and bond with her teammates. 

"I remember sightseeing in downtown Shanghai and just thinking, wow, I can't believe volleyball has brought me here,” Wahlgren laughed. “It was so cool to learn about a new culture." 

After graduating high school, Wahlgren spent two seasons in Utah. She played in 46 matches and finished her career as a Ute with 131 total points, tallying 1149 assists, adding 79 blocks, 205 digs, 48 kills and 39 aces in her 147 sets played.  

When it was time for a change, Wahlgren fell in love with Virginia Tech's program. She noticed that she could have meaningful relationships with coaches and support staff who care about her as a person, not just an athlete. 

During her first season at Tech, the junior setter has already posted a season-high 45 assists in three sets against Chattanooga and logged 49.5 total points. She's also stepped into a leadership role, on and off the court, as she leads by example and strives to push her teammates in the gym. 

The highlight of her season has been her new friendships. Whether it's grabbing dinner together, participating in a bonding retreat at a farm or just hanging out at someone's house, she always finds enjoyment in spending time with teammates.  

This strong culture is the cornerstone of the team's on-court success, and Wahlgren believes that will help them through their upcoming slate of highly competitive ACC matchups. 

"I think we've done such a good job building something really special,” she said. “Culture is something that we rely on, especially when things get tough. The competition in the ACC is good, and we're excited to use the culture that we've built to push through and get some wins.” 

Writing HERstory Campaign 

Tech Athletics launched a multi-platform brand campaign celebrating the incredible achievements of its female student-athletes, both past and present, while inspiring the next generation of women who aspire to achieve their dreams through athletics. Tech will share stories of its past and current female student-athletes over the course of the calendar year. Ranging from podcast interviews to feature stories and more, the incredible moments and achievements by women over the years in Virginia Tech Athletics will be celebrated. To make an impact on female sports at Tech or to sign up for the monthly Writing HERstory newsletter.