16U Defensa Heads West to Nationals
The Burlington-based Defensa 16U girls’ volleyball team is off to Calgary this weekend for the national championships.
Defensa, with players from Burlington, Oakville, Ancaster and Milton, won the provincial Tier 1 16U girls Ontario championships recently to qualify for the provincials. Defensa defeated the Durham Attack 25-23, 25-21 in the gold-medal game.
Burlington members of the team include Andrea Fisher, Melanie Walsh, Maggie Litton, Christine McNulty and Robyn Misener.
Fisher, a co-captain, is easily one of the top three attackers in the province at her age level, according to head coach Rob Fernley. “She is very strong at every aspect of the game — blocking, passing, serving, attacking and defence.”
Walsh, the starting libero is very vocal and aggressive, what a libero needs to be, said Fernley.
Misener, the only under-age player on the team, is the top 15U setter in Ontario, said her coach, who added there are only a couple of 16-17U players who could match her in that department. Despite the fact Defensa runs a slightly faster offence with more combination plays than most teams, Misener consistently makes the right choices.
Litton and McNulty both contribute off the bench. Litton is an outside attacker, consistent passer and solid server while McNulty, in only her second year playing the sport, contributed heavily at last year’s provincials and nationals. She usually plays in the middle position.
Defensa has won provincial Tier 1 silver medals the past two seasons at both the 14U and 15U level.
In even tougher competition, Defensa won an 18U tournament earlier this season.
The Burlington Post
