Stingers Take Bronze
Stratford Stingers 14U girls capped an incredible weekend by winning bronze at the Ontario Volleyball Association Provincial Championships at RIM Park.
Ranked 31st out of 32 teams entering the event, the Stingers opened with a tough three-set loss to Niagara Rapids Black, 25- 22, 21-25, 12-15. Match two saw the Stingers dig deep to overcome a deficit against the tough Waterloo Warriors, 16-25, 25-18, 25-12. In their third match Friday, the Stingers lost to Peel Selects 25-27, 25-18, 6-15.
Saturday, the Stingers stormed back to beat Aurora Storm Typhoon 23-25, 28-26, 15-7, with Lauren Nothdurft producing an amazing 12 straight points on serve in the tie-breaker. Stratford then defeated Markham Stingers 23- 25, 25-15, 15-11, and finished pool play with a 25-14, 24-26, 11-15 loss to Forest City Blue.
In Sunday’s playoffs, the Stingers avenged their loss to Niagara Black by sweeping them 25-22, 25-17, and then bounced back from a lopsided loss in the opening set to stun their nemesis, Waterloo Tigers Black, 9-25, 25-18, 15-9.
In the semis, Stratford fell 25- 21, 25-23, 14-16 to Halton Hurricanes. Great digs by Mwange Sampa, great serves by Lauren Nothdurft and Heather Denny, and strong defensive net play by Sammy Wilson helped Stratford win the first set. In set two, Ashley Murray found the back corner of the court and Maddie Arms’ hits were unstoppable.
Coaches Mary Alice Arms and Julie Murray mixed the rotation up in the bronze match, resulting in victory over the Etobicoke Titans Black. Shannon Mazzanti covered the back court, digging balls so that setters Arms and Sarah Pike could place them for decisive hits by Lauren Halliwell and Amy Klomp.
All players had a hand in the team’s success.
FROM THE STRATFORD BEACON HERALD
