Durham Attack | Attack Black 15U Places 5th at 16U Tier 1 Bugarski Cup

Durham Attack Girls 15U Black Volleyball Team earned the sixth seed for the upcoming OVA 16U Tier 1 Provincials, placing 5th at the 16U Tier 1 Bugarski Cup at Notre Dame SS, Ajax on Saturday, March 4th.

The first Pool match-up featured both of last year’s National champions at the 14U and 15U age groups, as Durham Attack Black 15U took on Scarborough Vipers 16U. Vipers stormed out of the gates, winning the first game 25-16. The younger Attack players proved they can compete with the best, losing a close second game 25-22. Vipers went on to win the Tournament Gold.

Aurora Storm 16U fielded a strong lineup, but Attack 15U demonstrated that champions know how to win when the game is on the line, taking a tight match 26-24, 25-23. Any time this team is behind in a match, the players know they still have a chance to win and refuse to quit. This attitude has paid off many times for these mentally tough athletes.

Finally, Attack 15U withstood a challenge from Peel Selects 90, a traditionally strong club, winning 25-20, 25-15 to place Second in Pool #1.

In the Crossover match, Attack 15U faced Waterdown Raiders 16U, a talented team they have never beaten in many previous meetings. An inspired group, Attack wanted to prove today was their day and blazed out to a 25-10 win in Game 1. Raiders re-grouped and settled into a close Game 2, each team trading point-for-point. In the end, it was the mentally strong champion attitude of Attack 15U that made the difference in winning by a narrow margin, 25-23.

In the Quarter-Finals, Attack ran into the big sister of their cross-town rivals, DRVC 16U. DRVC emerged victorious in Game 1 by the score of 25-17. Attack Black fought back in Game 2 and had DRVC concerned, as they built a lead at one point. Unable to hold the lead, they ended up short 25-21, but left with the feeling they can beat this team.

The final match of the day was important for seeding at the 16U Provincial Championships upcoming in April. Attack 15U had to win to avoid facing Seeds #1 Vipers & #2 Attack Black 16U in Provincial Pool Play. Once again, Attack 15U showed strong mental composure in facing Aurora Storm 16U again, a physically larger team. Attack won 25-19, 25-20 to finish tied for 5th place with Waterloo Tigers Black 16U. Going into the day, the Tigers were seeded 5th and Attack Black 7th.

Despite moving up to fifth on the day, Attack 15U will be seeded sixth at Provincials and Tigers fifth, still the highest ranking achieved by Attack Black 15U this year. This sets up a re-match in Pool C at the Provincial Championships against DRVC 16U.

Coach Evan Williams was pleased with the result, especially considering he had only eight players in his lineup, due to some key injuries. All eight gave a strong effort, but would a little rest during substitution have given them the energy to push through to a win against DRVC? Who knows.

Evan expects to have All-Canadian Middle Alysha Johnson and Right Side/Setter Allie Loynachan, two of his three tallest girls, return from injuries for the re-match at Provincials. Meanwhile, Attack Black 15U will travel to Cambridge March 25th as #1 seed in the 15U Tier 1 Bugarski Cup. It will be valuable experience, as the 16U Tier 1 Provincial Championships will be held in the same gymnasium at Jacob Hespeler SS in Cambridge, April 22-23rd.

1. Vipers 16-25, 22-25
2. Aurora Storm 26-24, 25-23
3. Peel Selects 90 25-20, 25-15
4. Waterdown Raiders 25-10, 25-23
5. DRVC 17-25, 21-25
6. Aurora Storm 25-19, 25-15