April 2, 2006 - Our 16U team has just returned from the OVA 17U Girls Tier 1 Ontario Championships, which were held at Brock University in St. Catharines.  Welcomed onto the campus by the "She-Wolf," we noted the modern and impressive facilities.  The four volleyball courts are in a large hall, which also houses a futuristic running track (ironically named for someone named 'Walker') suspended from the ceiling, around its perimeter.

There was some minor distress on Friday at our motel as several single shoes went missing.  Forgetfulness?  Carelessness?  Or was there an April Fool lurking about?  Sneakers magically re-appeared on Saturday a.m.  Accusing stares focused on Brian (for some reason) as the girls breakfasted at the local Tim's.

Brock University, in a spurt of enterprise, was hosting not only 16 volleyball teams, but a dance tournament, the Ontario Masters' swim meet and, for good measure, the Ontario Girls' Baton-Twirling Championship.  This made for interest in the cafeteria, when balding men in Speedos could be seen lining up beside six-foot volleyball players and petite girls in sequined tutus, armed with batons.

Our goal in attending the tournament was for the team to gain the experience of playing at a higher level against older and stronger competitors, and to obtain an idea of what to aim for in future training.  To a great extent this was achieved - we were up against some very powerful players and our girls had to adapt to a faster style of play than they usually experience.  They performed with determination, and held many of the games to creditably close scores.  Sadly, however, we lost all of our games on the first day.

To distract us from this reality, Karen Mostert arranged a fine dinner at a restaurant that could cater to the diversity of cuisine demanded by a group of tired and hungry teenagers and their parents. It was a spirited meal with (evidently) a small chef, 'half-price apartments' and a happy birthday chorus for Becky.

Sunday morning dawned with the feeling that the girls could do better.  The clocks had been turned forward, as had our confidence level, and for awhile there was brief hope that we might get a bye if no one else showed up (we were the first and only team to arrive before 10 o'clock)!  The time was whiled away on court #2 with a fine demonstration of one-on-six volleyball in which Matt, shod with flip-flops, delivered a series of killer serves to an opposition of two parents and four girls.  The hall being inadequately large for Matt to jump serve properly, he was forced on occasion to climb to the top tier of the bleachers and serve from there. Due to a predictable degeneration into jocularity from the audience, there is some variation in accounts of the final score, but most place it at Matt: 25, The Rest: 6.

The girls played a fine final match, dominating the first game handsomely and then delivering a cliff-hanger to win the second 26-24. It was a welcome performance to CAP off a "growing and learning" weekend of volleyball, over 1200 kilometres of driving, and some very pleasant company.

Thanks to all the drivers who helped get the girls back and forth, and to Matt for navigating the girls through this weekend of entertaining and demanding competition.  The girls next see action on April 22nd-23rd at the OVA 16U Girls Tier 1 Ontario Championships in Cambridge.