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U14 Lakers win gold at Volleyball Canada National Championships

Lakers win Division II Tier II gold over the Ottawa Maverick Raiders
20190506 Lakers gold ottawa
Photo submitted.

The The North Bay Youth Volleyball Club U-14 Girls Lakers capped off an amazing season by winning a gold medal at the Volleyball Canada National Championships in Ottawa over the weekend.

The three-day tournament saw the Lakers get off to a slow start Friday, losing to the Niagara Rapids Rivals 0-2. They came back to win the second match 2-1 against the York Region Thundercats, then lost to the Griffons de l’Outaouais, from Quebec 0-2.  

On Saturday, the Lakers came out firing on cylinders, taking the Peel Selects 2-0, the Montreal Chimeres 2-1 and the Sudbury Chill Blue 2-1.

The playoffs on Sunday saw the Lakers continue to roll, winning the quarter finals against L’Impact du College Durocher Saint-Lambert in two tight sets (26-24 and 25-23).  

The most exciting match of the weekend was the semi-final which featured the Lakers storming back from behind at the end of both sets to take the Envolley Bleu, 26-24 and 25-22.

The semi-final win set up the gold medal match between the hometown Ottawa Maverick Raiders and the NBYVC Lakers.

The game featured opposing coaches who are both NBYVC Alumni, Megan Cundari (2011-2018) with the Raiders and Abby Shantz (2011-2016).  

The Lakers took the first set 25-19, but dropped the second set 25-17. In the end, the Lakers determination and never-give-up attitude proved to be too much for the Mavs, and the girls took the Division II Tier II gold by winning the third set, 15-11.

Back Row (L-R): Assistant Coach Merv Shantz, Andriana Nadeau, Emily Goldthorp, Katie Sawyer, Head Coach Abby Shantz, Jenna Davies, Paige Gaudreau, Ruthie Shantz, Assistant Coach Dave Smart.  Front Row (L-R): Chloe McLean, Aimee Smart, Jenna Lowe, Elisa Heppenstall, Olivia Popp.