May 13-15, 2004 - For the 5th year in a row, Club Envolley hosted the Volleyball Canada Canadian East Open  - 15U & 16U this past weekend at l'Université de Sherbrooke.  This year 38 16U girls teams from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, PEI, Ontario and Quebec came together to battle for the title of "Best in the East".

The National Capitals 16U girls eagerly entered the tournament seeded 12th.   Joining them in their pool were Forest City Green from London ON, Chill from Bridgewater NS, and our neighbors Volants Bleues from Gatineau QC.  Achieving P1 in their pool was the first goal of the tournament - and that they did.  The CAPS displayed plenty of 8AM energy, cruising to their first win against Forest City, 25-17 and 25-13.  Struggling to find their form against Chill in the second set, they nonetheless took this match as well, 25-9 and 25-19.  Although their energy level dropped a notch for the 3rd match, they still managed to defeat Volants Bleues in two sets, 26-24 and 25-22.  Goal number 1 achieved - the CAPS had grabbed first place in their pool at the end of Day One.

Day Two and goal #2: take first place in their Power Pool and confirm their rightful place in Tier I.  In this pool they were pitted against Bishops Barons from St. John's NFLD, Central Nova from Truro NS and Metro Lakers from Halifax NS.  Another 8AM start and, despite a bit of lethargy, the CAPS were able to sail to a straight sets victory over Lakers, 25-18, 25-11.  Next up were our Newfoundland rivals, Bishops Barons, who handed the CAPS their first defeat of the tournament, 21-25, 25-22 and 10-15.  Keeping their eyes on the prize of first place in their Power Pool, the girls now had to not only beat Nova Scotia, but they had to do it in straight sets. They played with energy and consistency and got the job done, disarming Nova Scotia by scores of 25-20 and 25-14.  Goal number 2 achieved - the CAPS were part of a 3-way tie for first place in their Power Pool and remained in Tier I at the end of Day Two.

Day Three and goal #3: win the quarter finals and go on to play for a medal.  In order to achieve this goal the CAPS would have to conquer Peel Selects from Brampton ON.  Although their rivals are an overall taller team, this fact had not affected the outcome the last two times these teams had met.  At the Tier 1 Open Provincial Cup in February the CAPS took gold while Selects took 5th.  At the Provincial Championships in April the CAPS defeated Selects to take 5th spot in Ontario.  So the CAPS entered this match with a guarded optimism, but it didn't help to loosen them up in set 1.  The Selects' keen desire to win and strong hitting overpowered the CAPS' blocking and defensive games as they rolled to a one-sided 25-14 first set victory.   But set 2 was a different story - the CAPS had gained a step on the opposition and pushed out to a commanding lead.  However, as sometimes happens in this sport, the CAPS gradually let Selects back into the set until they were once again deadlocked at 24.  The score volleyed back and forth until Peel Selects finally took the match and ended the hopes of a championship for the 16U girls in an absolute heartbreaker, 31-29.

Coach O'Doherty could not hide her disappointment for the girls after the match.  "To  see such a quality group of kids work so hard for so long and then not be able to push through at such a big event is almost unbearable.  They had a rough first set but stormed back the way great teams do - then Peel really stepped it up, played well and took advantage of every little mistake we made."  She added, "Every team experiences a loss like this along the way that they never forget.  It happened last year to the 18Us in Moncton.  They can get down on themselves or learn from it and move on - luckily the girls have no choice, as we're now off to Calgary for West Nationals.  I know the girls will shake this off and be a better team for it."

Thank you Eunice and Steve West, Ross and Sherry Fetterly and Bob O'Doherty for getting our girls safely to and from Sherbrooke.  A huge thank you to coaches Cathy, Matt and Lorraine for your committed and excellent coaching, and thanks as well to Pascal's grandparents for inviting the girls to stay for the weekend at their home, to swim in their pool and enjoy a homemade BBQ.  And thank you parents and siblings who traveled to Sherbrooke to cheer on our girls.

Next up for the CAPS is the 16U Canadian West Open in Calgary from May 21-23rd, at which the 16U girls will be the sole Ontario representatives.  It's also the last match play event for the NCVC in its inaugural season.  Good luck to the girls in blue!

Top Eight Standings - Volleyball Canada 16U Girls Canadian East Open: