Familiar Duo Finds New Success
Familiarity has bred success for Courtney Aubin and Jillian Hughes.
The teenage duo has become a pleasant surprise on the OVA Beach Tour circuit, winning two medals in two tournaments. Not a bad way to start for two players who are new to the sport.
“It’s been pretty amazing,” Hughes, 14, said. “We’ve been practising pretty hard so we’re doing well.”
Despite attending different schools — Aubin goes to St. Mary’s, while Hughes attends Norwich — the teens became friends while playing for the Woodstock Warriors’ indoor OVA team. They decided to try beach volleyball this summer with instant success.
“In a way yes, but also no, too, because some of the teams haven’t played together,” Aubin said. “Some of them have just found partners so they don’t know each other, and Jillian and I have played together.”
There have been instances of opposing teams bickering on the court, which is mostly a symptom of unfamiliarity. Aubin and Hughes don’t have that problem.
“Both of us are all-around players and it’s much easier to communicate and play that way,” Aubin said. “It doesn’t matter who takes the ball. Either one can play it. She prefers the right and I prefer the left so it’s really good that way because we don’t fight over where we want.”
At their first tournament in Pickering, Hughes and Aubin lost in the championship match. The duo fell in three sets, losing by two points in the final game to the premier division’s fourth-ranked team.
Hughes and Aubin are currently in Tier 2, which is one level below premier.
“Knowing your partner and communicating helps a lot and just knowing the game,” Aubin said.
Cory Smith, Sentinel-Review
