Getting to know first year Mary Ann Rioflorido

"I've always dreamed of being a varsity athlete, so actually living in it right now is pretty surreal," shares Rams women's volleyball first-year Mary Ann Rioflorido, a 5-4 libero hailing from Markham, Ont.

Rioflorido recalls being around the age of 12, often watching the 18U players at provincial tournaments who she knew were committed to universities, and uttering the words, "Oh my gosh they're so good. I want to be like them!".

Between then and now, Rioflorido has represented prestigious Ontario volleyball clubs Aurora Storm and Pakmen VC, landing on the podium at the provincial and national level every year of competition.

While many student-athletes tend to shy away from attaching themselves too closely to their sport, Rioflorido has always embraced the large role that volleyball has played in her life.

"I would say that volleyball is part of my identity," expresses the 2021 recruit. "Even people in high school would go 'that's the volleyball girl' but I never really minded it. It is something that I live and breathe."

Having been awarded Female Athlete of the Year in her junior year of high school, Rioflorido credits the game of volleyball for allowing her to break out of her shell in many ways.

"In general, off the court I am pretty shy, but when I step on the court I am this whole new person who's able to express how competitive I am."

According to Rioflorido, it is this on-court transformation that helped her receive that award, saying, "I was up against some really good athletes at my school, but I think I was able to connect more with people, whether they were players or on the bench. So I would say sharing and showing my love for the sport [helped]."

When discussing her commitment to the Rams, one of many factors that came up was that both of her sisters have or are currently attending Ryerson, bringing more significance to her playing for her hometown and family school, in a sense.

"We're kind of like a Rams family, and I wanted to be the first sister to be a varsity athlete with the Rams," she added.

When it came down to pursuing an academic program, Rioflorido accepted an offer from Ryerson's Biomedical Sciences program in pursuit of one day becoming an occupational therapist.

"I was always interested in the physiology side of things because I was injured a lot and my chiropractor would always help me," she admits. Rioflorido added that it was a character playing an occupational therapist in a movie that inspired her to pursue that area of physiology.

When looking ahead to the fast-approaching OUA season, Rioflorido will be just one of three true rookies on the active roster, and has started most preseason matches. Playing with older teammates and against older opponents is something Rioflorido is familiar with however, as she played above her age group throughout most of her club career.

"I do feel really comfortable," she says about playing above her age group, "I've never really doubted myself because of my age."

Rioflorido also credits her Rams teammates for easing the transition process. When talking about training camp and the preseason so far, Rioflorido voiced, "Obviously at times, I would have a little bit of imposter syndrome because of me just being new and being the smallest, but they've all been so supportive."

Just three and a half years removed from a U SPORTS national championship for the Rams women's volleyball program, Rioflorido epitomizes the next generation of young and driven players coming into the system, looking to make their marks in 2021-22.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Mary Rioflorido: LIB; 5' 4"; 1

Players Mentioned

#5 Mary Rioflorido
: 5' 4"; 1
: LIB

Players Mentioned

#5 Mary Rioflorido

Players Mentioned

#5 Mary Rioflorido