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Ashbridges Bay, Toronto was the host site for this year’s national
championships, August 25-27th. A record forty-one teams entered in Women 16U,
demonstrating the popularity of this fast-growing sport.
Jordyn and Ali kicked off their beach partnership with a trip to Miami, Florida
in February. Pro Beach players from the AVP Tour train regularly at the sand
courts sheltered from the ocean, set across from the trendy restaurants and
modeling agencies of South Beach. As Indoor Provincial Champs with Evan
William’s Durham Attack 15U Indoor Volleyball Team, Ali & Jordyn’s team then won
15U Indoor Gold at Canada-East in Moncton and Gold at Canada-West in Calgary.
Ali Goc was named MVP in Moncton and All-Canadian at Canada-West. Jordyn Moloney
followed up her MVP Canada-East in Moncton last year with All-Canadian
recognition this year
Volleyball enthusiasts know that success at Indoor Volleyball does not
necessarily translate into success on the beach. Six players cover a 9 metre X 9
metre Indoor court, while only two must cover the 8M X 8M Beach court. Ali &
Jordyn are very fortunate to be coached by Olympic Coach Hernan Humana, who
trains them twice weekly at Beach Blast, a beach volleyball training centre in
Toronto.
Mixing 18U and 16U summer competitions, Goc & Moloney became a familiar pairing
on the OVA Beach tour. Returning from a volleyball camp at Penn State University
in July, the pair claimed Gold at an OVA tournament at Victoria Beach, Cobourg.
In Pennsylvania, the girls benefited a lot in terms of witnessing the focus and
hard work required of varsity athletes to achieve a high level in their sport.
The girls had a busy summer. They captured Silver at Ontario 16U Beach
Championships August 6th. Also, Jordyn was selected as a setter for the OVA
Region 4 team that won Gold at the 16U Indoor Ontario Summer Games in Ottawa
August 6-12th.
Entering the 16U national championships as 14 & 15 year-olds presented just the
challenge they were seeking. Traditionally, the Beach teams from Quebec are
successful in Women’s Beach Volleyball and Ali & Jordyn handled four Quebec
teams, plus Ontario and Alberta 2 in pool play and the preliminary play-off
rounds. Advancing to the final four, next up was Alberta 1, a strong team that
won the Bronze in 2005. The first set was extremely close. Sets finish at 21,
but you must win by two. Alberta prevailed 25-23 and 21-11 in the second set.
A wise coach said the Bronze Medal might be the most difficult medal to win,
following on such a tough loss. Ali & Jordyn rallied immediately to win 21-11,
21-18 and claim the podium spot.
Next March, the podium finishers will be invited to a try-out at Beach Blast to
represent Canada at the 19U World Championships, so the third place finish is
important to these youngsters. The girls will take a break for the Indoor season
with Durham Attack and their high school teams before beginning preparations in
January to train for the 19U Worlds opportunity in March.
In July 2007, Ali & Jordyn will travel with Hernan’s Beach Cubs Volleyball Club
to represent Canada in Bahia, Brazil. Parties interested in sponsoring this
venture are encouraged to contact hhumana@yorku.ca
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