Despite waiting almost a full month since last competing at the OVA Provincials in Kitchener-Waterloo, the Northern Chill 14U Girls demonstrated that they had lost very little, if any, of their competitive edge, travelling to Ottawa to take part in the 14U National Championships at Carleton University last month.
The Chill quickly dusted the cobwebs, taking down the Ottawa Maverick Ramblers 25-16, 27-25, and following up with a second straight win over the Ottawa Maverick Banditas (25-22, 21-25, 15-10).
The locals would taste defeat for the first time in game three, falling 19-25, 22-25 to the Quebec Aftershock. Although victories were tough to come by for the next two days, it was not for the lack of competitiveness, as the Chill battled in four consecutive matches that went to a third and deciding set.
Losses to Defensa White (Burlington – 25-17, 17-25, 8-15), the Peterborough Thunder (12-25, 25-12, 7-15) and the Grimsby Vipers (19-25, 25-21, 19-21) provided more valuable playing experience for a group of girls with much of their competitive volleyball careers still ahead of them.
Looking to stay alive in their grouping come Sunday morning, the Chill fell just a little short against the Northumberland Breakers Elite, fighting tooth and nail right to the end (25-14, 10-25, 12-15).
The 2016-2017 edition of the Northern Chill 14U girls team included Kyla Parsons, Emily Ayotte, Maggy Davidson, Fyscher McQueen, Josée Beauchamp, Julianna Toppazzini, Elizabeth Hughes, Danielle Stinson, Jorja Bast, Faith Charbonneau, Danika Osterberg and Sydney Nicholls, as well as coaches Eric Bacon and John Peacock.
