November 5, 2005 - Kingston was the
destination for the 2nd tournament of the season for the 16U CAPS,
the OVA 17U Provincial Cup - Zone C. Once again we were
lucky to start our pool at 10AM so we didn't have to leave for
Loyalist CVI until 7:30AM. Luckily everyone missed the speed
traps along the way and we were all there for the first
game.
That first match was against Pegasus
15U from Kingston, a brave and skilled set of young women playing
up two age divisions. Pegasus took an early lead but the CAPS
managed to tie it up at 15s. The CAPS service game then brought
us up 10 points for the win. The set was finished with a
beautiful kill. The next set was a little close for comfort, but
great early plays and an aggressive finish brought the team to a 25-21
win.
The next matchup was against the first 17U
team we would meet this year, the Ottawa Mavericks. Game
1 had its ups and downs, but the team kept it together to win 25-20.
During the second set the CAPS were down 10 points, managed to fight
back most of the way, but it was not quite enough. In the end
they would lose the set by a score of 25-17. Hearts were
pounding as the CAPS dominated the last game and, with an amazing
winning finish, took the set 15-6. This put the CAPS at the top
of their pool.
In the quarter-finals the CAPS met
cross-town rivals, the Ottawa Kangaroos (17U). Team
parents sweated through the first set as the ROOS scored 7 straight
points followed by another 7 to put them up by 11. Solid
blocking brought the girls back up to inch past for a final score of
26-24 in our favour. In the second set the girls came out
strong and played their best ball of the tournament,winning
25-13.
The semi-finals pitted the CAPS against
the DRVC 17U team and it was an amazing competition. The
entire first set was neck and neck and the game could really have gone
either way. Unfortunately DRVC was able to hold on for a 26-24
win. The second set started slowly but the CAPS stepped up with
4 brilliant blocks. They fought all the way to the end, but lost
25-17. The ability to block shorts was the highlight of the CAPS
play in this game.
This led the CAPS to the bronze medal match
against Pegasus 17U. Both teams looked a little tired by
this point in the day, but kept hard at it. Pegasus took Set 1
by a score of 25-23. By this point the parents were certainly
exhausted, with some even complaining of eye twitching (maybe some
sedatives for the next tournament?). In the final set of the
day, the CAPS had an early lead but went down 25-19, and finished the
tournament in 4th place.
Coaches Harris and Miner said of the
tournament, "We had a pretty good day today - the girls'
teamwork and communication are beginning to improve. They know
it's going to take a lot more hard work and sweat - we can get good
finishes but only if everyone's fully committed and willing to give
it their all." They also added, "the girls proved last year,
it takes time to get team momentum going. It's early days, the
girls have a long way to go - with a little patience we'll see it
all come together."
The girls next see action at the Omnium
du Québec 16U, Saturday, November 19th at École secondaire
Cité-des-Jeunes in Vaudreuil.
Results/OVA 17U Girls Provincial Cup -
Zone C
Gold: DRVC (Ashburn)
Silver: Durham Attack Black 16U
(Oshawa)
Bronze: Pegasus 89s (Kingston)
4. National Capitals
16U
5. Ottawa Mavericks Spurs
5. Ottawa Kangaroos 17U
7. Ottawa Kangaroos 16U
7. Pegasus 15U (Kingston)
9. Port Perry Panthers
Quarter-finals:
Pegasus 89s def. Mavericks (25-14,
25-16)
DRVC def. Panthers (25-3,
25-4)
Capitals 16U def. Kangaroos (26-24,
25-13)
Attack Black def. Kangaroos 16U (25-14, 25-19)
Semi-finals:
DRVC def. Capitals (26-24,
25-17)
Attack Black def. Pegasus 89s (25-14,
25-19)
Bronze:
Pegasus 89s def. Capitals 16U (25-23,
25-19)
Gold:
DRVC def. Attack Black (25-22,
25-15)
