OVA News

In our scrimmages with Team Australia yesterday we played five competitions (some wash activities, some straight scrimmages) and won four. Once again however neither coach was using a set lineup. All of our players were used except Steve Brinkman who is undergoing treatment for a back problem.

Strong performances were exhibited by many on our side. Dallas Soonias excelled attacking and serving. Louis Pierre Mainville was a good middle attacker and blocker as was Justin Duff. Steve Gotch was excellent on serve receive. Gavin Schmitt, limited to back row only, provided some great attacks from behind the 3 metre line.  Benoit Raymond was an excellent defender late in the exhibitions due largely to the work assistant coach Vincent Pichette did with him in the morning practice.

This morning the team had a brief on court session followed by weights. Shortly they will begin their third and final informal scrimmage session with the Australian Team.

Blog: Men’s National Team trip to Australia – exhibition matches
Written by: Larry McKay - Invited assistant coach

Get the full tour story with Larry McKay

The Niagara College Department of Intercollegiate Athletics are very pleased to announce and officially welcome Nathan Groenveld as Head Coach of the Niagara College Knights Men’s Volleyball team. At age 23, the Welland resident becomes the newest and youngest coach at Niagara College.

As an athlete, Nathan Groenveld has competed at every level possible. From 2004 – 2009, he would represent McMaster University in CIS competition where he garnered much success including team captain, OUA First team All-Star, CIS Championship All-Star, Team MVP, OUA Player of the Year, CIS First Team All Canadian and Male Athlete of the Year. The 6’ 7” middle would take his skills to another level in 2007 when he was added to the National Team program and would spend his next three years with the National Senior team. He represented Canada at the NORCECA Continental Championships in 2009, and an exhibition series in 2008 against Australia.
Learn more niagaraknights.com

The OVA is pleased to announce the expansion of the 2010 OVA Beach Tour to include three additional locations on Saturday July 10, 2010: Ottawa, Grand Bend, and Pickering.

On June 19, Max Volley in Ottawa, hosted a successful Beach Satellite Tournament event sanctioned by the OVA. The OVA is happy to announce it will be hosting its additional Ottawa Tour event on July 10 at Max Volley for the 12U-16U divisions.

Through the help and support of PVB, the OVA will host its first event in Grand Bend on July 10. This event will also host 12U-16U age divisions.

Our third event will be in Pickering hosted by at Solstice Sport. Solstice will be a Youth Open Satellite Tournament for both males and females. This event will not award points, but will gain you participation towards qualifying for Provincials.

The registration fee for all three events is $80, the deadline is Wednesday July 7, 2010 at 11:59pm. All three events have limited space so make sure you register early. Registration is available on nrs.volleyball.ca

In Addition.
On July 17-18 the OVA Beach Tour will be in two locations offering full points for all divisions in Sauble Beach and Cobourg. Sauble Beach will also host a free illScarlett concert.

The following weekend the OVA will be hosting three Satellite tournaments in Port Stanley, Cobourg and Beach Blast in Toronto. This will be your last chance to gain participation to qualify for Provincials.

For more information please contact Josh Nichol jnichol@ontariovolleyball.org 416-426-7233.

Sarah Pavan hitting against Dominican Republic

Sarah Pavan of Kitchener, produced a match-high 22 points on Saturday to lead Canada to a 25-18, 11-25, 25-14, 25-22 victory over Brazil at the Pan Am Cup women’s volleyball tournament in Tijuana, Mexico.

With the win, Canada places seventh at the 11-country meet with an overall record of two wins and five losses The Canadians went 0-4 in the round robin but rebounded with a strong consolation playoff defeating Trinidad and Tobago, dropping a close five-setter to Argentina, before bumping Brazil today. It was Canada’s first tournament this season.

Canada was also seventh at last year’s Pan Am Cup but head coach Arnd Ludwig, says this year’s schedule was much tougher with two matches against Argentina and Brazil, and one as well against the Dominican Republic and Cuba, all ahead of Canada in the world rankings.

Get the full story VC

An eventful summer lies ahead for some volleyball players.

Stratford’s Katie McLay and Ethan McCarroll have been selected to the 16U Region 3 indoor volleyball team that will compete in the Ontario Summer games August 10-13 in Sudbury. McLay is a member of the K-W Predators volleyball team, while McCarroll plays for the Stratford Cobras. Both are St. Michael students.

McLay and partner Robyn Misener won the 16U premier tournament on the OVA beach tour, finishing ahead of 17 other teams. They defeated a pair from the Scarborough Titans in the final match 21-16, 21-18, after overcoming an 8-14 deficit in the last set of the semifinals in their 21-15, 18-21, 16-14 win over a Durham duo. McLay serve eight balls in a row for the win.

Stratford’s Michael Tomlinson, a Central high school student and member of the Forest City Volleyball Club, was selected to the Provincial 17/18U High Performance Centre. Athletes selected are considered top volleyball players in the province.

Stratford Beacon Herald

The 2010 volleyball decision has been made in a 5-2 vote for PVB beach volleyball and the Not So Pro tournament to go forward. Ward 3 Councilor Mark Simpson in his motion to council said Lambton Shores council just want to see and experience first hand the OVA tournament as well as the beach volleyball school before their inclusion or exclusion from the Recreation and Leisure Master plan….

What a better way for Council and the community to actually see and experience first hand the OVA tournament as well as the school before their inclusion or exclusion from the plan. This is also an excellent opportunity for us to evaluate an event that utilizes our major investment in Grand Bend. We can learn a great deal, with the possibility of enhancing these kinds of activities for the betterment of the community, and we look forward to working with groups such as the Lambton Shores Community Association, to find an appropriate plan for the future,” said Simpson.

Get the full story from Lynda Hillman Rapley, Lakeshore Advance

The collision was monumental — the Calgary Dinos, the best 15U girls’ volleyball team in Western Canada, and London’s Forest City Volleyball Club’s green team, the toast of Ontario with three straight provincial championships under its belt.

The Canadian Open Championships for 15U girls held May 21-24 came down to these two titans, and the competition was fierce in front of 500 boisterous spectators at Calgary’s Saddledome.

Forest City drew first blood, taking the opening set 25-20. But the Dinos dug in, rebounding to take the second set 25-21. So the match and gold medal spun on the outcome of a third set, with the crowd letting out a huge roar after each point. The Dinos pushed Forest City hard, and the Londoners pushed back, fighting off five match points before finally falling to their hosts 21-19.

No head-hanging for the green teens, though. “It was a great weekend and the girls showed what true champions they are,” Forest City coach Wayne Rabley said via e-mail. “Their team motto is ‘tenacious’ and no one at the championship match would doubt their resolve . . . after watching these two great teams battle it out.”

Get the full story from Steve Coad, London Free Press

A textbook definition of the word dedication is: A commitment to a course of action through selfless devotion.

But to understand the real-life meaning, you must drop by Glashan Public School and observe Rick Desclouds.

But you’ll have to get there early and soon to watch the Dean of Dedication, a single father of two adult boys who built a volleyball — alright sports — empire during the past four decades at the Ottawa intermediate (Grades 7-8) school.

A competitive but caring coach, Desclouds, 59, prefers to cast the spotlight on his players to explain Glashan’s success. But he’s scheduled to have the spotlight all to himself during his retirement celebration at the Ottawa Curling Club. The school paid tribute to Desclouds on Saturday by staging a volleyball tournament and barbecue for past students.

Desclouds has been a fixture at Glashan for the past 37 years….
On the volleyball court, Desclouds guided the Glashan Spikers boys’ team for 35 years, winning 32 Ottawa-Carleton Elementary Athletics Association titles, and 10 school championships from 14 Ontario Cup finals over 30 years. He credits the school’s volleyball success to its Open Gym program.

He estimates the boys’ career match record at 1,500 wins and 35 losses. This year’s record, 71-1, is indicative of success from past years. Glashan’s only loss came in the quarterfinals of the Ontario Cup. It’s little wonder the Glashan school gym was renamed the Rick Desclouds Gym in 2009…

Get the full story from Martin Cleary, The Ottawa Citizen

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

2010 marks PVB’s 10th year of summer beach volleyball camps at Ashbridge’s Bay, Toronto. Athletes can experience high level training at an affordable price. Work with Canada’s top beach volleyball athletes and coaches through a coaching format that ensures sound skill and tactical improvements while also satisfying your summer camp initiatives of having a blast on the beach. This camp is sanctioned by the OVA.

Ashbridges Bay Camps
June 28th – July 2nd
July 19th – 23rd
July 26th – 30th
August 9th – 13th

Cost: $270.00

Visit www.pvbcanada.com
Or contact Jim Konrad:416-262-8364 / jkonrad@pvbcanada.com