Durham Attack | Second Provincial Title for 18U Girls

On Saturday April 15, 2006, our players and their families traveled to downtown Toronto to challenge the best Ontario 20U teams for the 20U Girls Provincial Championships. Ranked #1 going in, there were many teams who wanted to prove themselves against our side.

Pool Play

Our first match was against the Scarborough Falcons, the same team we had faced in the quarter-finals in the 18U Girls Provincial Championships the previous weekend. Attack was in control from the start and never gave this upstart team any hope, winning 25-16 and 25-21.

Our regional rival, the DRVC Rebels was our next opponent. Bolstered by some Durham College players to complement their 18U team, we were going to face a tougher team than the one who finished 6th at last week’s Provincials. However, our determination and skill level was never matched and Attack won 25-19, 25-20.

Playoffs

Finishing 1st in our pool afforded a bit of a rest before our quarter-fnal match, which turned out to be the Tigers from Waterloo. With focus and confidence, Attack quickly dispatched the Tigers 25-13 and 25-11.

We would be playing the Cinderella team of these Provincials, the Burlington Blaze in our semi-final match. The Blaze, ranked 8th, had shocked MAC (ranked 3rd and a number of these girls are / will be playing for McMaster University as well as coached by their Varsity Coach). The Blaze were looking for another upset but quickly realized in the first set that they were playing a superior side. Attack won the first set 25-13. Blaze stayed focused and played very tough in the 2nd set. The Blaze stayed close but in the end, couldn’t divert the constant offensive pressure and Attack booked their place in the final winning 25-22.

The finals would see Attack face the #2 Ranked Blues from Toronto. The Blues, sporting 7 Varsity players, had beaten the Peel Selects in a tough 3 set semi-final match. Note: Attack had our hands full with these same Selects in the 18U Provincial finals and won in a 5 setter the previous week. In addition, we were on the Blues home court and they wanted to avenge their only loss of the season earlier in March.

Agreeing to play a best of three final instead of a best of five, both teams knew they had to start well and establish their style of play. In the first set, it was Attack who looked like the irresistible force vs. the Blues’ immoveable object: Attack’s offence vs. the Blues’ blocking. With the constant pressure from our LS hitters and timely middle attacks, the girls won the first set 25-18. The coaching staff knew the Blues would come out strong in the second set and it would be a battle. Both teams had their runs and stoppages and the crowd saw some very good volleyball with each point being played. In fact, this would be the most exciting set of the Championships. Our gals had the first Match point but were denied at 24-23 and then the Blues suddenly had their own set point at 24-25. Three times our girls fought off set points at 25, 26, and 27. Then we converted a defensive dig and we scored giving us our second Match point at 28-27. During the next rally captain Kaila Janssen drilled a spike through the Blues block to end the match at 29-27!!

More amazing is that we had just won our second consecutive Provincial Championship in as many weeks. This team can say they are this year’s 18U AND 20U Provincial Champions and arguably the best youth team in recent memory in this age group.

In addition, opposing coaches selected their Tournament All-Stars: Kaila Janssen and Annabelle Pellerin were selected for Outside Hitters, Hayley Todd as Middle Attacker and Amber-Lee Campbell as the Tournament Setter.

We like to thank our parents and families for their support, especially taking time during Easter weekend.

We have one more goal: To “Bring It” at the 18U Canadian Open in Abbotsford, BC May 5-7, 2006!!!

For video click here.