At times, the Northern Chill 15U Avalanche girls volleyball team are more than equal to the challenge of Select bracket opponents, the second highest tier in the province.
At times, they are reminded just how tough life among the elite can be.
Taking part in the Bugarski Cup - Select A tournament in Kitchener at the end of February, the Chill looked pretty darn impressive in posting a 4-0 record in morning pool play, downing both the Storm Surge from Aurora (25-12, 25-21), as well as the Durham Attack Explosion (25-23, 25-22).
Well-positioned for a shot at a top four finish, the Chill Avalanche were administered a healthy dose of competitive reality, swept aside in straight sets in the quarter-finals by the Waterloo Tigers Apex, 17-25, 17-25.
Though a much closer affair, their fifth/seventh consolation battle with the Venom Vipers (York Region) was no more rewarding, the Sudbury girls dropping a 15-25, 25-23, 10-15 decision to their GTA rivals.
Still, the reality is that the Northern Chill 15U Avalanche had remained quite competitive within the Select grouping at a handful of tournaments earlier this year, even dipping their toes briefly in the Premier Division top of the food chain waters.
The roster for the 2019-2020 15U Chill girls team features Siobhan Noble-Poland, Michelle Scratch, Kameryn VanWallegham, Allison Nordquist, Ashley Ruddick, Alexie Chicoine, Gabrielle Comeau, Kayla Bouffard, Hannah Crane and Sydney Jokinen.
The team staff includes head coach Denny Chicoine, assistant coach Kurtis VanWallegham, and team manager Liane Jokinen.
