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Shimmering silver Top 12 final bow for our 18U CAPS at Nationals in Ottawa
(PHOTOS)
By Paul Edwards, with photos by Eva Edwards
May 3, 2009 — It’s hard to know what to write at such a late hour, after such an amazing event, and in consideration of having witnessed the last get-together of a group of girls who have travelled so very far together... (Just start writing.)
Day 3 of the Volleyball Canada Canadian Open in Ottawa began and ended for our 18U Girls in the IceHouse at Carleton University. First to take the court was CVC Radz Gold from Regina, Saskatchewan. These Prairie girls didn’t waste any time going after the CAPS early, taking the first set in somewhat swift and worrisome fashion. Our girls were forced to expeditiously get back down to business – and that they did – gradually ramping up their game and ultimately besting the Cougars in 3 to secure their berth in the quarters.
As fate would have it, that quarter-final matchup would see the CAPS meet the team they had hosted just 4 nights previous at St. Pius X – BVC from Winnipeg, Manitoba. The CAPS would repeat their early morning form, starting off disconcertingly slowly and dropping the first set in somewhat humbling fashion. This time around however, the CAPS would make a quite spectacular re-discovery of their collective inner ‘mojo’. After a resounding stuff block here, a breathtaking defensive gem there, and crushing kills coming from just about everywhere on the court, the CAPS stomped their way back into this match with a very convincing second set victory. In the tie-breaker, the Ottawa girls showed little courtesy to their western guests, as they seemed to have no means of holding back their amazing control, distribution and termination of the ball. CAPS move on to the Division 1/Tier 2 final with an extremely promising 3-set victory over Blazers.
After a break of an hour and a half, the girls stepped back onto Court 11 in the IceHouse to warm up for their final match of their club careers (all except Annie, of course) against their old friends/foes from Kitchener-Waterloo, Predators. Tough to know how many times our two teams have met up over the years, but there just seemed to be a special feeling in the air this afternoon – somehow it just seemed right that CAPS and Preds would end their year together in what would (hopefully) be a stirring finish to a great season for both teams. Once again however, the CAPS got off to an inexplicably slow start. Granted, a number of balls were bouncing in the opposition’s favour, but the Predators were full marks for their one-sided first set defeat of our CAPS. Was it possible that the 18U Girls’ final season together would end like this?
Nuh-uh. The CAPS roared back in the second, throwing themselves headlong into what will forever be remembered as perhaps the most memorable loss of their careers. What a set of volleyball we were all privileged to witness! Both teams were forced to muster up everything they had to force things to 24s, then 26s, and 28s. Would it ever end? Unfortunately so, in favour of Predators, 30-28. This was the second time this weekend when the girls had dug, ripped and pounded their opponents into the 30s, only to suffer a loss. This time however, there was little feeling of defeat in the air – the CAPS had ended their club careers proudly playing their absolute best ball, in an atmosphere of camaraderie and truly friendly sportsmanship. Players and coaches from both teams exchanged embraces after the match – this time there really was a silver lining to a match loss, and the girls could stake claim to a Top 12 finish in Canada.
On that note... while it may not have been the final placing our CAPS had hoped for coming into this event, the girls all need to consider that there are literally hundreds and hundreds of teams who played 18U ball this year across this giant country. It’s easy to lose perspective on things, but you ladies placed yourselves in the relative stratosphere of Canadian 18U Girls volleyball this weekend. Canada12 is a rank about which the vast majority of teams across Canada can only dream. Congratulations 18U CAPS – we are all very, very proud of you.
There are so many people to thank after an event, a season, a 7-year journey like this. Thank you to Coach Jeremy Hannay and his Assistants Chris MacLennan and Michelle Prentice. The amount of time and energy – of yourselves – that you put into this season and into the team was remarkable, and sincerely appreciated by all the parents and players this year. Thanks to Kerry & Karen Green for doing all the heavy lifting of team management this season. Thanks to Dr. Carrie Johnston and the staff of RE:FORM Body Clinic for all their help in keeping the girls healthy throughout the season. Thanks to Julie Kirkpatrick for all her patient work making sure the girls looked fabulous this year. Thanks to Eva Edwards for taking the photos that made the girls look fabulous on the website all year long. Thanks to NCVC President Bob O’Doherty and his amazing staff of volunteers for putting on yet another exceptional National Championship event here in Ottawa in 2009. You have done the CAPS proud yet again. Thanks to all the friends and family who came out this season and throughout the years to cheer on our girls as they travelled across the province, the country and the United States, representing the club and playing the sport they love. And thanks to all the CAPS coaches (Matt Hoey, Chris Miedema, Jessica Prot, Matt Harris, Cathy O’Doherty, Ashlie Cormack, Diana Dowthwaite and Paulette Cournoyer-Peski) who have contributed over the years to the consistent placement of this team in the Top Tier of Ontario volleyball, and for the character which they have helped build.
A special thanks to all the CAPS teammates and good friends who have come into the lives of this group of girls during their CAPS careers, especially Brittany Rockwell, Kathleen Watt, Robyn Croteau, Kayla Lafrenière and Carolynn Jones, as well as so many others: Marijke Miedema, Kaleigh Potts, Teal Narraway, Nathalie Chou, Adrianna Bortolotti, Erika Leck, Isabelle Mongeon, Jamie Bulbrook, and Kristen Ritchie. We wish you all the very best as you continue your studies and make the jump to post-secondary life.
Last, but most certainly not least, thank you to Lauren Carter, Jorie Daymond, Laura Edwards, Leah Spas, Rebecca Crosier, Stephanie Green, Maxine Alie Poirier and Annie Gleeson for having taken us on such an epic journey – some of us for seven amazing seasons! After so long, we might be forgiven for having taken it all for granted from time to time, but I think I can speak for all the parents when I say that you are all our heroes for having put so much of yourselves into your club volleyball careers, for toughing it out through the ups and the downs, and for being such wonderful role models for the club and for the sport. We look forward to watching your exciting university careers with interest as you take your game to the next level.
Bon voyage girls – it’s been a helluva ride...
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