Lindsey Vander Weide feels thrilled to reunite with former Oregon teammate Brooke Van Sickle, eager to rekindle their on-court connection as they spearhead Petro Gazz’s campaign for the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference championship.
Now on her second tour of duty with the Angels, Vander Weide spent three years alongside Van Sickle at the University of Oregon before their paths diverged — only to cross again years later, this time as teammates once more with Petro Gazz.
“I’m very excited. I played with Brooke for three years in college,” said the 27-year-old American winger during the PVL Reinforced Conference press conference held at Discovery Suites last Thursday.
“We did a lot of big things in college. You guys know Brooke is a huge arm. I’m a big arm so I know that duo is going to be really good, just like it was back then. And like you said, a lot of my old teammates are here too, so that’s really exciting,” she added.
In her first stint with the Angels back in 2022, Vander Weide powered the club to the Reinforced Conference crown while bagging both the Best Import and Finals MVP honors — a feat achieved before Van Sickle had even joined the team.
(C) PVL Images
Two years later, the 27-year-old Fil-Hawaiian spiker came aboard and carved out her own legacy. She won back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards while steering Petro Gazz to its first-ever All-Filipino Conference championship.
For Vander Weide, returning to the Angels was something she had always envisioned. So when Petro Gazz reached out at the right time, the decision to come back was an easy one.
“I’m super excited. I kind of always wanted to come back right after I left, but I wasn’t sure if the cards were ever going to play out where I was able to, and they contacted me this season. I’m in a part where I’m not playing right now, so I’m super excited to be back, and I knew I had to do it with Petro Gazz,” she shared.
With her decorated first stint still fresh in memory, Vander Weide knows the challenge is to bring Petro Gazz back to the top. And with the Angels’ core still intact — this time reinforced by Van Sickle — she believes they have the tools to make another championship run.
“Of course, of course, that’s the goal. That felt amazing to do last time. I’m really hoping we can do it again. Like you said, we still have a lot of firepower, plus Brooke, huge addition, so hopefully we can get that done.”
