Not only did the Northern Chill 14U Blue Cyclones volleyball team host a Jan. 22 tournament at Laurentian University, they walked away from the event having clinched silver against some tough volleyball squads.
The Blue Cyclones kicked off the all-day event with wins over the Georgina Riptide Rage Surge (25-20, 25-20) and the Galaxy Comets from Richmond Hill (25-16, 25-17).
“Ella Tourville enjoyed an outstanding morning of volleyball, coming through with several big hits and big blocks as the Chill garnered some momentum,” the team said in a news release.
A quarter-final match against PVC Lightning moved the Cyclones onto the final four thanks to a 25-18, 25-16 triumph.
“Needing some mid-game defensive adjustments and some aggressive and effective defense from Alissa Timusk, the Blue Cyclones overcame a 25-22 first set loss in a rematch with the Comets, earning a berth in the final with back-to-back set victories by scores of 25-22 and 15-4.”
In the final, the Chill locals went head-to-head with the North Bay Lakers Splash, a team “blessed with a great deal of height,” the Chill said.
“The Chill struggled in a 25-13 gold medal game setback, but were more than competitive in dropping the second set 25-23, settling for silver in the end.”
This being the team’s third Ontario Volleyball Association event of the season, they’re really coming together as a team.
“Everybody is so much more comfortable with everyone else,” said Isbelle “Gus” Bonish, a Grade 8 student at École secondaire Macdonald-Cartier. “We know how we pass, we know how to set people, and our serves are incredible now.”
Besides Bonish, the 2022-2023 Blue Cyclones are Elayna Skraba, Alexie Paquette, Aliya Heinrichs, Kendra Crew, Lily MacIsaac, Josslyne Ouellette, Maggie Brady and Waive Brear.
Meanwhile, the Northern Chill 14U White Cyclones showed that they are almost ready to contend with the podium favourites in this bracket.
Competing in Pool B, the second local entry kicked things off in style, downing the Reach Aces from Markham 25-22, 25-23 but edged out by the Orillia Suns Sun Block 21-25, 24-26 as all three teams went 2-2 in preliminary round play.
Facing the PVC Lightning in pre-QF action, the Sudbury reps dropped a three-set battle, 14-25, 25-19, 8-15, going the distance again in their final match of the day, a three-set loss to Thundercats Infinity (York Region) 25-17, 13-25, 5-15.
The Northern Chill 14U White Cyclones roster includes Caroline Reichle, Sara Brenton, Aven Thompson, Rose Baxter, Ava Gigliotti, Jasmine Maurice, Olivia Cecutti, Alexandra Lawrence, Emily MacDonald, Kierra Pheasant, Amelia Lefebvre and Addison Romas.
