Powell River Aces under-16 girls’ volleyball team competed in the Western Canadian Open Volleyball Championships last week at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, Alberta. Aces swept to silver after playing nine matches.
Coaches Doug Skinner and Jay Yule drove for two long days before arriving in Calgary, where 104 teams from BC to Ontario competed. Aces knew it was going to be a challenge for a very young team. With a 12-player roster, only three Aces were in the under-16 age category. The remaining nine players were all a year younger, playing up against older and more experienced volleyball players.
Matches Saturday, May 17, saw Aces defeat all three opponents: Rocky Mountain House, Alberta (25-13, 25-15), Winnipeg, Manitoba Fury (25-17, 25-14) and Whitecourt, Alberta Revz (25-14, 25-7). With their confidence growing, the girls went into Sunday’s matches winning against Winnipeg, Manitoba Pilots (25-14, 25-14), Calgary, Alberta Ignite (25-14, 25-17) and Winnipeg, Manitoba Pilots Blue (22-25, 25-18, 15-12) in a three-set nail-biter.
Monday’s playoffs had Aces take on Edmonton, Alberta, for the start of the medal round. The winner of this match would move on and all games that day would be tough. Aces came out hitting and, with strong play, defeated Edmonton (26-24, 25-18).
The second match Monday decided which team went on to play for gold. In a very tense, very defensively strong battle, Aces fought hard against Jr WES from Winnipeg, Manitoba, winning a very close one (25-22, 28-26). The tension was high but Aces had earned a trip to the championship final.
The gold-medal game started off strongly with Aces competing evenly against their opponent Bison from Winnipeg, Manitoba. After putting up a strong fight, Aces were finally defeated (18-25, 16-25) earning a silver medal.
The result means Aces volleyball team is the 2014 Division three Canadian Open Volleyball Silver Medalist.
Team members are Lauren Davis, Chantel Gauthier, Kristen Watson, Maddie Yule, Katie Tuba, Tyana Sacree, Hope Lechner, Paige Lawson, Lauren Mander, Kayla Reed, Melinda Boyd and Matilda Bertrand.
