EDMONTON — Winning a medal at a national championship was the furthest thing from the minds of Rocky Mountain Volleyball Club (RMVC) coaches, who were looking to gain experience and have fun.
But coach Chad Hollett said the girls had other things in mind.
Capping off a fantastic season, Canmore Volleyball Club’s U15 girls team won the silver medal at the national tournament held in Edmonton from May 16-18.
This is the club's first domestic medal in its history.
“They took their game to a whole other level,” Hollett said. “What they lacked was experience and a chance to play on the big stage, and we delivered.”
After going 7-1 in the national tournament, the U15 team lost to Toronto’s Leaside Volleyball in two sets, 25-20, 25-18. Reaching the finals and losing was a big mental blow, but afterwards, the small-town team realized what they had accomplished.
At the start of the season, this small town team was ranked a modest 104th in Alberta, but on the court they were a team to be reckoned with, and as the season progressed the team's potential was realized as they played in the championship match in four of the six tournaments and won the gold medal at the Alberta Premier Tournament for the first time in the club's history.
At the national tournament, the girls' team defeated teams in round-robin play and made it through the playoffs like putting a hot knife through butter.
“We beat some of the teams that had beaten us before and were considered a level above us, but in the national championships we beat them two straight times without question. We were the best team on the court,” Hollett said.
But once in the final, the engines ran dry and after three days of tension and fierce competition, the U15 girls' team was unable to keep up with the speed of Leaside's onslaught.
However, the coach praised all 11 players for being able to take part in the dance.Looking to the future, Hollett added that the players have a lot of potential.
“The girls definitely peaked in May and played their best volleyball,” Hollett said.
U14 Canmore team advances to national tournament
RMVC’s U14 girls team also competed against some of Canada’s top teams at the national tournament held in Richmond, B.C., May 10-12.
Coach Joshua Bappiste said the team finished with a record of 2 wins and 6 losses due to nerves on the big stage, but that they gained valuable experience for the future.
“It was a little overwhelming going to the national tournament and seeing all the courts and all the players,” Bapiste said.
But the girls have made great strides since the start of the season, struggling with a new system but putting it all together, and he said a return to nationals next season is a possibility.
“A lot of times at this age group, you bump the ball and roll it the first or second time. We were bumping it, setting it, spiking it and attacking it. That's something I was really proud of,” Bappiste said.
“We didn't win. Winning is really nice, but the fact that they performed and played at the highest level possible is a win for me.”