Assemble in one room a total 48 of Ottawa's best young female volleyball players, a select group of successful coaches, a throng of supportive and proud parents, and a group of dedicated volunteers keen to create opportunities for volleyball excellence, and what do you have? An incredible volleyball family that has come together as the CAPS!

The National Capitals Volleyball Club (NCVC) staged its first ever "KickOff" on November 1st at what has come to be 'home base' for much of the club's activities, St. Pius X High School. All four teams (14U, 15U, 16U and 18U Girls) are about to open up the Ontario Volleyball Association tournament season on November 6th with events in Ottawa and Richmond. The club held the rally to formally introduce the teams, to hand out the long awaited CAPS uniforms (you rock Jim and Darlene McGeer!), to mingle over a potluck spread, and then to engage in some fun demos, mixers and next-to-final tune-up prior to the weekend's matches.

Teams have been very busy since the September 11 tryouts, practicing 2 to 3 times a week, doing some special hitters, setters and middle clinics, fundraising, and conducting CAPSClinics. What the KickOff really helped to do was to hit home that, while each person is a vital member of their team, and that most of their involvement revolves around that primary group, there's also a bigger team at play too. The new National Capitals Volleyball Club!

One thing that many of us picked up on from the on-court mixer that blended all age groups together was truly how much of a family affair the CAPS are! There were no less than 5 sets of sisters from different teams on the court. We saw an Edwards pass to another Edwards for a set (Laura to Tess), the O'Doherty dig of an O'Doherty spike (Erin of Meghan's), the Wolfenden high five to Wolfenden in response to an ace (Jessica to Haley), a Daymond cover for a Daymond block (Jorie for Alex), and one Ze'roual trying to out duel another Ze'roual at the net (Jessica versus Melissa).

That's 20% of CAPS players who have a sister in the club (and rumour has it that there's more coming)! Maybe volleyball is in the genes, or the older sisters really are such positive role models, or maybe it's just the exposure to a wonderful sport that sees such a second wave of younger sisters playing club volleyball as well. No doubt it's a mix of all those possible explanations, plus a large dose of supportive parenting!

Thanks to Volleyball Canada for some treasured door prizes - though it was Erin O'Doherty who walked away with the most prized possession: the first ever CAPS jersey produced - the prototype that was made months ago to ensure that each team was going to be proud to adorn a CAPS uni on their back.

A big thank you to Steve and Eunice West and NCVC's Special Events Committee for organizing a great evening. To Bob O'Doherty for stand-up emceeing (and gotta love those door prizes), to Susan Wolfenden and Paul Edwards for capturing the memories on camera, and to all attendees for your CAPS fellowship, our warmest appreciation!

Go CAPS go!