Several weeks ago in this space it was mentioned that local club volleyball teams had concluded their indoor season with competition at the provincial level and that secondary school teams had finished their playoffs some time ago. So let’s catch up now on some of those results…
It was another highly successful season for the Nanaimo Volleyball Club, with various age levels capturing Island titles.
We’ll start with the senior team from the club, the NVC Mariners U18 girls. Coached by club president Bill Rounis, the Mariners this season captured first place at the Island Championships held in Parksville, then subsequently placed fifth at provincials. Players on the team were Jamie Bassett, Jamie Belfry, Carlena Chahley, Alex Cloutier, Megan Groenendijk, Tyger Holt, Alysha Hutt, Lainey Jantzi, Kenzi Mcdonald, Paige Milner, Tricia Randen and Rachel Vanstone.
Nanaimo Volleyball Club this year hosted the Island championships at the U16 level and the NVC Express girls’ team emerged victorious. Kirklan Lum provided coaching for players Victoria Behie, Megan Bell, Hailey Bradley, Kaitlyn Franklin, Coral Littlejohn, Kayley McKinley, Jenna Mirau, Danya Nieman, Kaitlin Ovcharov, Elysiann Redlick, Brooke Richmond and Brooke Shouldice. The Express girls went on to place ninth at provincials in Abbotsford.
Playoffs for U15 girls saw the local Express team place second at Islands in Campbell River, then seventh at the provincials. Tim and Margaret O’Connor provided coaching for players Robyn Bishop, Amanda Dobbyn, Shelby Dorman-Banks, Morgan Duchen, Celine Forcier, Marika Grubac, Kelsey Hutt, Hayley Isaachsen, Eva Jones, Shaylene Magnan, Jessica Sparks and alternates Taylor Ellis and Nora Loyst.
At the U14 level for girls, NVC fielded a pair of squads coached by Tony Dendes, Shawna Nichol and Kyla Nichol. The Express Blue team won the Island title, while the White team placed fourth. Players on the two rosters included Mikayla Anderson, Elice Angelucci, Hayley Carolan, Keira Christansen, Samantha Chwelos, Zoe Dendes, Misa Gillis, Hayley Goodwin, Kaitlyn Herrington, Rachel Jerome, Gabbi Knoop, Jordyn Monaghan, Alyssa Mousseau, Molly O’Brien, Rose Plensky, Maya Redlick, Leila Reyes, Jessica Roe, Hannah Ross, Shaelynn Ross, Jamie Sampson, Amy Smith and Emily White.
Coaches Rick Bevis and Lindsay McLoughlin saw the U13 Express girls finish fourth at their Island championships. Team members were Alexa Bevis, Madelin Boas, Cloe Cantin, Tannaz Fouladi, Laura Greene, Elise Keeping, Danica McKinley, Taylor Olsen, Alicia Ortiz, Andreea Radutu and Marie Taylor.
Turning to high school volleyball, the top AAAA girls’ team this year was the Dover Bay Dolphins, coached by Dave Nelson. The Dover girls won the North Islands, placed second at the Islands and were 11th at provincials held in North Vancouver. Players on the team were Jamie Bassett, Jamie Belfry, Alex Casey, Carlena Chahley, Jade Ellis, Alena Holyk, McKenzie Nicks, Tarryn Robinson, Nicole Stoiani, Kaleigh Studer and Rachel Vanstone.
At the girls’ AAA level, the NDSS Islanders were second at their Island tournament and went on to place 12th at provincials. Kyla and Shawna Nicol coached the squad, consisting of players Leah Laberge, Megan MacNeil, Paige Milner, Karli Neiman, Asha Parhar, Leigh Richardson, Julia Schweiger, Regan Suhan, Jordyn Taylor, Darby Walker and Jenna Wright.
The A girls’ team from Cedar Secondary had an excellent season, winning the North Island and Island titles for the second straight year and finishing eighth at provincials in Prince George. Bill Rounis coached Cedar players Megan Cawthorne, Breanna Dorman-Banks, Alexa Ellis, Sidney Gulka, Alicia Hutt, Sara Kaiwi, Kashtin Low, Courtney Mah, Trisha Randen, Meghan Roe, Cathy Jordan and Paige Spoor.
Whatever your sport, a reminder in closing to play your hardest, play fair, and show good sportsmanship.
Ian Thorpe writes about sports Saturdays.