What an exciting weekend of volleyball for Durham Attack! Our 14U Black girls
team came to Moncton raring to go, with only one goal in mind, the Gold Medal.
Since losing to the Niagara Rapids in the 3rd game by only 2 points to miss the
Gold in the Provincials, these girls have definitely not been quiet, and came to
Moncton with something to prove. They had already roared back to win the Quebec
Provincials, then they grabbed the Gold in the Tier 2 15U Provincials. There was
only one conquest left – the Nationals.
Day 1
They began their play on Friday with Aquilon Jean-de-Brebeuf, a scrappy team
that kept our girls on their toes in both games, 25-17, 25-14. Empowered by
their victory, our girls went on to defeat Anges Bleus B (Moncton) 25 – 9, 25-7.
We finished the night by defeating Suns (New Minas) 25 – 9, 25-17.
Day 2
The next morning, we were up bright and early to do some ‘team bonding’ at
Hopewell Rocks. Well….most of the team was up bright and early! To
make up for his sleepiness, Paul took the girls shopping in the afternoon before
their games, knowing all too well the positive power of retail therapy for these
girls. It paid off. That afternoon, the girls met Les Rouges (Petit
Roucher) in the Power Pools and again showed very strong play with a decisive
victory (25 – 12, 25 – 15). Their next match was against DRVC 14U and
strong defence and power proved too much for the Rebels as we swept them 25 -8,
25 – 18. Our final match of the day was with Les Volitives, a team we had
already met in Joliette at the Provincials. Our girls prevailed once
again, with scores of 25 – 10, 25 – 10.
Day 3
The next
morning was Day 3 – The Playoffs. Our girls were undefeated, and they were
hungry for Gold. Their first match of the day was against the Russell
Ravens, a young Ottawa team, that folded under the tremendous pressure exerted
by our girls (25 – 4, 25 – 8). Our next match was against Aquilon Jean-de-Brebuf
again, and this team again made our girls work for every point (25 – 17, 25 –
22).
And for the
grand finale – what else – the Gold Medal match against Niagara Rapids Black.
It was poetic justice, and this time, revenge was especially sweet, as our MVP Dani Vortisch hammered the winning shot. But the day wasn’t complete with
the Gold Medal, it wasn’t complete with the lobster dinner, and it wasn’t even
complete with Paul’s birthday cake with wishes coming true before blowing the
candles out. It was only complete with the making good on a promise by our
coaches Paul and Adam as they jumped into the cold , dark ocean at Shediac Beach
later that night.
It was a
fitting end to the season – 10 players, 4 coaches and supporting parents taking
a jump of faith into a volleyball season of unknowns, and learning how to keep
determination alive to reach a goal, no matter how difficult or unknown the
waters might be. Thanks girls for an exciting season – the ups certainly
outweighed the downs. Thanks Paul, Adam, Brian and Kate – without your
guidance and encouragement, our girls couldn’t have reached their collective and
personal goals. And thanks parents, for the many lunches, snacks, water,
conversations, and most importantly – laughs. It was great fun.
|
