Thompson Rivers head coach Pat Hennelly said the Gaels played a solid game.

“Give Queen’s credit; they did a lot of good things,” he said. “In the fourth and the fifth, their defence really paid off. We just didn’t show enough energy.”

Queen’s head coach Brenda Willis said the team’s performance at nationals should help validate Queen’s as a solid volleyball program.

“It always feels good when you win,” she said. “We came in seeded fifth and I think a lot of people believed we shouldn’t be fifth, that we weren’t as good as anyone in Canada West. Canada West is a great conference, but we really believe that with this group of athletes, if we had the chance to play at this level all the time, we’d be as good as anybody.”

The Gaels lost their first match in straight sets to the Trinity Western Spartans Friday, knocking them out of the championship-side bracket, but they beat the Université de Montréal Carabins Saturday to advance to the fifth-place final against the WolfPack.

The Spartans went on to the tournament final, which Willis said makes the loss to them more palatable for Queen’s.

“When you lose to number-one or number-two and you win your next two, there’s nothing to be ashamed of,” she said. “We’re pretty happy.”

Queen’s setter Dan Rosenbaum said the team bounced back nicely from their opening loss.

“After day one against Trinity Western, we were pretty discouraged,” he said. “Once we realized we could still come out of the tournament with two wins and one loss, we decided to come out and play.”

Rosenbaum said the team’s performance should help OUA schools’ reputation, especially considering that the Gaels weren’t ranked in the national Top 10 heading into the tournament.

“I think it’s a good statement game for the OUA,” he said. “There’s a lot of naysayers out there that like to put down Ontario volleyball. Hopefully in the next couple of years, we can prove them wrong and be in the conversation with the top volleyball teams in the nation.”

Rosenbaum said the team’s hoping to build on this performance for the next few seasons.

“I think it works really well with our five-year plan, hosting nationals in what would be mine and Bryan and Joren [Zeeman] and Niko [Rukavina]’s fifth year,” he said. “To win OUAs and get to CIs this year was a really good experience. Hopefully we can use that to move forward next year and in our fifth year, get ready to win a medal.”

Andrew Bucholtz, queensjournal,ca

The gold medals were hanging around their necks, but it was like Kitchener’s Forest Heights Trojans couldn’t believe what had just happened.They were officially the best girls volleyball team in Ontario, yet somehow it didn’t quite seem real. Perhaps it had something to do with the way it all went down.

As they’d been doing for most of the Ontario quad-A girls volleyball championship tournament, the top-ranked Trojans toyed with defeat Wednesday before emerging with a hard-fought victory.

This time is was against the No. 3 Georgetown Rebels, — and their die-hard fans — who rallied from a two-set deficit before finally falling in a thrilling, five-set final. With Meaghan Loveday and Heather Thompson making a double block to end the match, the Trojans escaped with a 25-15, 25-19, 17-25, 25-27, 15-10 victory.

“I have no idea what happened,” said Loveday, the team’s undisputed leader and go-to player. “We had them by two and I guess we just decided to let them come in and give our coaches a heart attack.

“I’m just really happy and I’m so proud of the girls. I know a couple of them were down, thinking maybe we might not get it, but nobody gave up and we played as a team.”

The Trojans had an interesting path to the championship game, winning all their matches but losing the opening set in four of five outings. They went the distance in both of their earlier games on Wednesday, edging London’s A.B. Lucas Vikings 2-1 in the quarter-finals and then rallying to score another 2-1 win over the Mayfield Mavericks of Caledon in a semifinal matchup.

The championship game was a thriller, as a vocal crowd cheered and groaned with every point.

The match looked like it would be over in a hurry as Trojans dominated the first two sets and appeared to be well on their way to victory. Then everything changed. The bounces that had been going their way were suddenly going against them and the Rebels were riding a wave of momentum. The Trojans rallied from a six-point deficit in the fourth set and actually had one shot at victory with a 25-24 lead, but the Rebels roared back with three straight points to take the set.

Then Loveday took over. She had been the match’s most dominant player to that point and managed to somehow turn it up another notch for the final set. A force at the net with powerful spikes, her serves were also giving the opposition fits.

“I wanted to win very badly and I guess it brought out the best in me. I guess I found something extra within me,” said the Grade 12 left side player.

A strong supporting cast also came up big in the two-hour marathon.

Setter Jessie Vicic was steady all tournament and libero Brieanne Gallant managed to save a number of points that appeared to be lost. Thompson, Jen Lennox, Alley Newman and Khira Adams played their roles, while Grade 10 callup Marisa Mota was solid along the back line.

Trojans head coach Kelvin Hui, who is assisted by Lisa Watson and Lynn Vicic, was the picture of composure following the victory and answered every question directed his way before finally admitting he was having a hard time focusing on what had just taken place.

“I’m not sure what really just happened,” he said with a smile. “I know we won, I’m just not believing it. It’ll sink in later, I’m sure it will.”

As for the coach’s words of wisdom heading into the fifth set, the soft-spoken Hui said he kept his message simple.

“I told them to drink some water and relax,” he said.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Trojans back at OFSAA in 2011, as only Lennox is definitely leaving the squad for an NCAA basketball scholarship at Canisius College in Buffalo. Loveday is still undecided on whether she’ll return for a fifth year, but with the rest of the starters coming back, she admits it’s a tempting idea.

“It would definitely be a lot of fun with the same group of girls,” she said.

Mark Bryson, The Record

OFSAA RESULTS:

AAAA – Barrie
G-Forest Heights Trojans
S-Georgetown DHS
B-Sinclair SS

AAA- Stratford
G-Louis-Riel SS
S-Sir Oliver Mowat CI
B-Chatham-Kent

AA-Perth
G-General Amherst DHS
S-Dryden HS
B-Beamsville DSS

A-Kenora
G-Monseigneur Bruyère
S-St.Thomas Aquines
B-Trinity College

The Jason Senechal Memorial Award is presented to the Youth Beach Athlete that best demonstrates the qualities of honour, fair play, and sportsmanship. What makes this award even more special is it is voted on by your peers of the beach tour. Athletes such as Lance Reynolds, Eric Kuld, Sam Schachter  and Katie Jenkins have all won this award. The 2009 recipient Victoria Altomare demonstrated all of these qualities and more.  Vee’s outgoing personality and passion for the sport make her stand out as a quality role model for every young athlete on the tour.

Aside from her outgoing personality Victoria’s results also make her stand out from the crowd. In 2009 she was a member of the Women’s Provincial Team, Youth Open Provincial Gold Medalist, 18U Nationals Gold Medalist, and represented Canada at U19 FIVB World Championships.

OVA: What do you like most about Beach Volleyball?
Vee: I can’t say enough about this game. I love everything about it! However I think when it comes down to it, it’s amazing because it is only you and one other person on the court. You have to trust heavily in your skills, have an in incredible mental game, and must learn to work through everything…there are no substitutions!

OVA: Why did you start playing Beach?
Vee: I started playing beach volleyball because I wanted something to help my indoor game during the months I had off. Also, a good tan was an incentive.

OVA: What are the advantages to indoor athletes who play beach volleyball?
Vee: Beach volleyball allows you to work on all your skills. Actually you have to work on all your skills. For the person that never sets on the indoor game, they must develop that skill on the beach. You learn to develop  court sense, meaning a better understanding of the overall game. You begin to read play’s better and make better decisions.  After a couple months of jumping in the sand, your jump improves, and the game is less strenuous on your body.

OVA: How did the Youth Open division help prepare you for playing in the OUA?
Vee: I began to familiarize myself with older players, and therefore they weren’t strangers to me when I stepped onto the indoor court. It also assured me that if we were competing with girls in their fourth and fifth years of university, then the transition to the OUA wouldn’t be as overwhelming as I had originally thought.

After one year of playing in the OUA Vee has decided to move back to Toronto and train full time as a Beach Athlete with the National Team Training Centre.

OVA: Where do you see Beach in Canada going in the next 5 years?
Vee: In the last year , Beach in Canada has just taken huge steps in terms of developing our athletes. We now have a National Beach Volleyball Practice Centre in Toronto, that trains athletes all year round, as well as development programs for our younger athletes. This sport is only going to grow, and now with young athletes deciding to train full year round for this sport… we can only hope for spots on the podium in the future.

OVA: What message would you give to any young beach athlete wanting to play for the National Team?
Vee: Just keep working hard. The last two years I have learned that it isn’t the players that practice two times a week that succeed; it’s the ones that are out there every single day constantly working on their skills.  Get involved in the game as soon as you can! It’s amazing the opportunities that are available!

OVA: Describe what it was like playing at Worlds? How was it different from an OVA event?
Vee: It was the greatest international experience I have had so far. In the OVA you see pretty much the same teams every-weekend so you develop game plans and are familiar with certain players tendencies, strengths, and weakness. At worlds, you had no Idea what the Australians weaknesses or strengths are, or what the Italian’s could be expected to do. You had to develop strategies and read the plays as they went on, the only thing you could control was your personal game.

OVA: Best memory from playing?
Vee: Against Germany, in a very important match, the stands were packed with people from all over the world chanting ” CANADA,CANADA!”,  I realized that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.. travel ,train and represent Canada.

We would like to thank Victoria Altomare for all of her help with this article. If you would like to recommend someone for PROfiles please contact Josh Nichol jnichol@ontariovolleyball.org | 416-426-7233

The seedings were announced Sunday evening for the 2010 CIS tourney set to kick off Friday at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, B.C. The gold-medal final of the eight-team competition is scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m. EST

Rounding out the seedings are the No. 2 and reigning two-time CIS champion Alberta Golden Bears (Canada West champions), No. 3 Dalhousie Tigers (AUS champions), No. 4 Trinity Western Spartans (Canada West finalists), No. 5 Queen’s Gaels (OUA champions), No. 6 Calgary Dinos (Canada West bronze medallists), No. 7 Thompson Rivers WolfPack (championship hosts), and No. 8 Montreal Carabins (QSSF finalists).

SSN Canada will have live webcasts of all main-bracket duels, including the bronze-medal match.

photo courtesy: gogaelsgo.com

Get your Canadian volleyball fix online.

Volleyball Source magazine, a Canadian volleyball online magazine, was launched on Monday, March 8, by long-time touring beach player Ahren Cadieux, who knows just about everyone in the sport. Veteran volleyball writer Larry Humber handles the editorial.

They are joined by some winning correspondents, notably three-time Olympian Mark Heese, as well as fitness, mental conditioning and nutrition specialists. Source covers the Canadian volleyball scene and looks at the bigger picture, too. An interview with Canadian men’s National Team coach Glenn Hoag is a highlight of the inaugural issue.

You will also meet Tiffany Dodds and other Canucks who are having an impact internationally, even Jason Haldane, who may yet realize his Olympic dream. Not to forget two-time beach champion Matt Zbyszewski and two-sport sensation Paul Rosen, who is currently tending net at the Paralympic Games in Vancouver.

Source also looks at the next generation, Canada’s upcoming college and pro stars.

What more could you ask for?

Volleyball Source press release

The new magazine is colourful with plenty of photos, comes with embedded video and even has an audio component for those too lazy to read. You can become a Facebook fan and follow them on Twitter too. Best of all, it is free to those who sign up.

It is available online at www.volleyballsourcemag.com

DHS Senior Girls Volleyball team is ready to hit the Championship road.

The Dryden High School Senior Girls Volleyball team arrived in Perth Monday to compete in the “AA” OFSAA championship. The team has been ranked third in the province and will face some tough competition from the best teams from across Ontario. They are but one team among many seeking championships at four different levels of competition at four corners of Ontario. The hunt for “A” champions will take place in Kenora, “AAA” in Stratford and quad “A” in Barrie.

Some tournaments opened Monday with an athletes banquet, but all play begins today Tuesday, with finals taking place Wednesday, March 10.

The DHS Eagles play on Tuesday at 10:30 vs Don Bosco HS. The girls continue at 1:30 vs Perth, 4:30 vs De La Salle and 7:30 vs Beamsville.

Follow your girls team Official websites

photo courtesy: dhseagles.kpdsb.on.ca

Joren Zeeman recorded 24 points for Queen’s; Bryan Fautley added 11 kills while Niko Rukavina had 10. Winston Rosser of Whitby, Ont., was the leading hitter for Guelph with 14 kills

With the win, Queen’s advances to next weekend’s CIS Men’s Volleyball Championships at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, B.C.

CIS

Get the full story from Jamie Howieson www.gogaelsgo.com

Reid just completed his first full season leading the Ryerson Rams women’s volleyball team, after being named head coach in November, 2008. The team has made a marked improvement since Reid took the helm. The Rams finished just out of the playoffs with an 8-11 record, but recorded their highest number of wins in five seasons.

A native of Newtonville, Reid grew up in Orono, attending Kirby Public School and Clarke High School. His contribution to the sport of volleyball started early, standing out as a top player on his high school volleyball team while also playing high school basketball, rugby and hockey.

“He’s had such a long career,” said his mother, Cheryl Reid. “It started at Clarke High School.” She said her son decided to concentrate on playing volleyball after his friend and mentor Ken Davies – a volleyball player at Clarke, four years Reid’s senior – was killed in 1989 by a drunk driver.

“Ken had some goals in mind for his own career,” explained Cheryl Reid. “Ken always wanted to play for Team Canada, and that prompted Dustin to pursue volleyball almost exclusively.”

Read more Sue Weigard

Citing the region as “underserved” in terms of opportunities for young men to play the sport, the 45-year-old father of two is hoping to get enough members for one or two teams at the 14-15 age group.

Vermaas says the club is designed for players who have already played volleyball in school who hope to reach the ultimate goal of the national championships.

“It’s not only an experience to reach the upper echelon in volleyball, but I think it’s a positive life experience,” he said. “It’s positive in terms of health and fitness in their future endeavors down the road. Hopefully it teaches them discipline and time management, and teamwork, all those things that will come into play during their lives.”

Vermaas, who has lived in Burlington for seven years, says he started noticed continuing requests for a boys league from other parents at his daughter’s volleyball club as far back as four years ago.

And while he doesn’t rule out the possibility of a more “grassroots” type club in the future, Vermaas says for now there will be three training camps held in the summer before the next OVA season begins.

Vermaas played the sport while attending the University of Toronto from 1984-88 and has coached at Ryerson and Upper Canada College. He currently coaches a girls team at the Halton Region Volleyball Club in Burlington.

For more information, contact Jeff at jeffv@hofland.com.

In a fitting twist to the OUA volleyball campaign, the Marauders will meet the Guelph Gryphons in their semi-final encounter this Friday, March 5. The Gryphons have been a perpetual thorn in Mac’s side this season, beating the OUA leaders in both of their previous games (3-1 and 3-0). Considering that the Marauders lost only three games in total, Guelph’s achievement is both impressive and puzzling. Either way, Mac will have the chance to redeem themselves in elimination play and put an end to the giant-killers.

Read more from Fraser Caldwell, the Si.ca