OVA News

Here is a report on the U17 final from  Sharon Simons of the Toronto Element Girls Volleyball Team.

The 17U Toronto Element Girls Volleyball Team travelled to RIM Park in Kitchener- Waterloo this past weekend along with 52 other teams from across the province who gathered to compete in the 2010 Ontario Provincial Volleyball Championships and vie for the 2010 Ontario Provincial Championship Title.

Friday April 30th, 2010 – Pool Play
The first match of the tournament for Element would be against the Fire and Fury team out of Burlington. Element started the match with vigor winning the first set 25-9 leaving no doubt what they were here to do this weekend. Set two however found Element making numerous uncharacteristic unforced errors causing them to drop set two 25-23. Slowly getting back into their rhythm Element won set three and the match 15-10

Match two would be against the Selects team out of Brampton. Unfortunately the Select team was no match for the more dominate Element team who handedly won this match in two straight sets 25-16 and 25-14.

The final match of Friday’s pool play would pit the Element team against the Fusion Team from Ottawa. This match would be the best match of day with some great rallies and good plays on both sides of the net. In the end Element came out victorious in two straight sets 25-22 and 25-21 to finish day one with a perfect record.

Saturday May 1st , 2010 – Power Pool Play
The first match of the day would be against one of the home town teams, the Predators from Kitchener Waterloo. It was a great way to start the day with some really hard fought rallies and some spectacular displays of sheer determination to win single points. In the end Element won in 3 sets 25-22, 24-26 and 15-10

Match two saw Element take on the 17U Forest City team out of London, a very quick and talented defensive team. Element dropped the first set 25-21 but came back with vengeance in set two to win 25-15 and then took set three 15-9.

The final match for power pool would be against one of the top 16U teams in the province, Durham Attack Black out of Oshawa, a team we met once before and handled rather easily, however this time that would not be the case. Set one of the match would probably be one of the best sets of the entire weekend for both teams. The younger team took the court with confidence and soon had the older Element team taking them much more seriously and paying much more attention than they had since the last time these two teams met. Both teams played hard and treated spectators to some incredible displays of sheer talent both offensively and defensively on both sides of the court. Both teams traded point for point however in the end, after an exceptionally long hard fought first set Element came out victorious 30-28. Set two would not be nearly as intense as the first set and Element, with momentum now on their side, quickly took set two 25-13 finishing day two undefeated.

Sunday May 2nd, 2010 – CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFF
The final day of the 2009/2010 OVA indoor season, the day that every team in Ontario trained and worked so hard for, the day that would determine what team would ultimately stand on top of the podium and be the Ontario Provincial Champions. This would also be a day where the Element team would be battling “Purple ALL DAY” – GO GREEN!!!!!!!

Quarter Finals
Element having gone undefeated in the tournament had earned a bye into quarter finals and would match up against yet another top 16U team in the province, the 16U Predators from Kitchener-Waterloo (in their purple, black and white uniforms). This match would be eerily similar to the last match played the previous day with the other 16U team. Set one would be a long hard fought game that went back and forth; point for point, but this time Element dropped the first set 28-26. Not happy with losing in the first set, Element took the court for set two and with precision and skill won 25-17 and left no room for doubt in set three taking it 15-10.

Semi Finals
This match would be a rematch of day one as Element would once again face the home team, the 17U Predators from Kitchener- Waterloo (in their purple, black and white uniforms). This match started out fairly strong with Element winning a close first set 25-23. Set two however was Element all the way as they quickly and decidedly took set two 25-13 to earn them a spot in the GOLD MEDAL match.

THE 2010 ONTARIO PROVINCIAL GOLD MEDAL MATCH
Toronto Element versus Defensa from Burlington (in their purple, black and white uniforms). It goes without saying that this final match up came as no surprise to anyone as these two teams, without a doubt, were two of the strongest teams in this age division all year and it was fitting that they would vie for the provincial title.

Set one saw Defensa jump out to an early lead that they were not about to relinquish and they won set one 25-20. Set two saw Element storm out to a quick lead that they were not about to relinquish either and they won set two 25-19. It all came down to a final set between two very strong, determined talented teams both hungry for the win. Element with determination, skill, precision and sheer will jumped out to an early lead of 7-2 and remained in the lead at the switch 8-3. The change of sides, the constant colours of purple, black and white or whatever the reason saw Element lose concentration and that translated into a heart pounding moment where the score was tied at 10-10. This was indeed a game that was worth watching and one that could indeed be called the GOLD MEDAL match as both sides fought as hard as they could for every point. In the end Element (when it was needed most, and like all true champions do) found that inner strength and determination to ultimately win the final set 15-10 to win the match and become the 2010 17U Ontario Provincial Champions.

Coaches Corner
What a fitting end to a long and tough provincial season! Each Element player has been through their own set of ups and downs this season and like all teams we were not immune to the rollercoaster of elite competition. Through the struggles of countless practices, meetings, tournaments and team time I saw a group of girls truly become a team and learn what it means to fight for what you want, do it together and for each other.

Every single player in an Element jersey contributed to this Championship. It took 10 athletes to believe and do the work to achieve what they wanted this season. There were a lot of lessons learned by everyone (coaching staff included) and they are lessons I can only hope that will serve these girls throughout their lives.

I am proud that we finished strong and that each match got better and better as the tournament progressed. We found our rhythm, played with heart and that is all a coach can really ask for. This win is about the team and there is not a group that I feel deserves it more.

A huge thank you (and we couldn’t have done it) to a few people, first my Assistant Coach Rob Argalis. He has been my right hand support and strategic mind giving plenty of personal hours to help these girls improve. To Eric Seifert for devoting his time to educating and keeping the team healthier than any other team this year (which often goes unnoticed when you aren’t hurt!) And of course a big thank you to the parents for their unwavering support of their daughters, helping to keep the team well fed, watered and rested (not to mention the endless cheers and voices in the crowd!).

This is another goal we set out to attain and achieved. A couple of days to enjoy the feeling then right back to work for the next on the list – Nationals. You can bet we are going to work harder than ever to finish up on a gold medal note again!

GREAT WORK EVERYONE!

Written by Sharon Simons