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G G G G GOLD!!! 17U's Dominate at Provincial Cup December 13, 2009 - Smiths Falls, ON On Saturday, December 12, the Knights VC 17U Girls competed in the 2009 Ontario Volleyball Provincial Cup in Smiths Falls, ON. The girls had played in a few warm up tournaments in Sherbrooke, QC, and Pembroke, ON in preparation for the first decisive competition of the year. The Knights went into this tournament not practicing for the entire week due to weather, but were prepared mentally for a long day of volleyball. The Knights began the day playing a less than prepared Soaring Eagles team. The Eagles showed up just in time to play and were not ready for what the Knights had to offer. The Knights went to work early and often with strong service and tough defence. The girls finished off the Eagles from Akwesasne in straight sets, 25-12, 25-14. The second match of the day was much tougher. The Knights were playing a tall team from Kingston, the Pegasus Outrage. The Knights were not playing their best volleyball by any means, but still outlasted the Outrage with great efforts from Taylor Decaire and Thalia Hanniman. They led the Knights to another straight sets victory, 25-22, 25-20. The last match of pool play was against a Northumberland Breakers team that seemed to be rolling. The Knights were getting better with every game, and this would be no different. The girls from the Knights were all over the Breakers from start to finish. It seemed that every ball that came over the net to the Knights was passed well and drilled down on their opponents. The Knights even snuck in some combination plays with Katie Lafreniere hitting a stellar inside shoot to ice the match in straight sets, 25-11, 25-15. This meant that the Knights finished 1st in their pool and would be facing the host, Lanark County Wings, in the quarter-finals. The Knights were still getting better and better through the day and dismantled the Wings quickly, 25-12, 25-16. This put the Knights into the semi-finals against a familiar foe in the Pegasus Outrage. The Knights were playing much better than the first time these two teams met, and there was no stopping them. The Knights passed well, blocked well, and were finishing plays. This match was nothing like the first with exception to the result. The Knights rolled the Outrage 25-14, 25-18. This set the stage for the championship match. The Knights VC would face the Ottawa Fusion for gold at the 2009 OVA Provincial Cup. The Knights were down early in the first set, but clawed their way back into it and lead 24-21. Unfortunately, the Fusion went on a major surge and stole the first set from the Knights 24-26. This was the Knights first and only set loss of the day. The second set was controlled start to finish by the Knights, as they demonstrated how effective they can be when they pass well. The second set score was 25-18. This meant the match had to go to a third and deciding set. The match was great, the intensity high, and the teams playing strong. The Knights would have two opportunities to win the game at 14-12, but could not convert. At 14-14 a substitution changed the service reception formation, and the Knights converted two points to win the match and the gold medal, 16-14. What a day. This means that the Knights VC will be moving up to the Championship Division, and will be seeded nicely among the participating teams in the upcoming OVA McGregor Cup. A big thank you to the supportive parents that cheered loudly all day, and our setters Taylor Decaire and Victoria Clarke for stepping up to the plate and delivering a solid performance. GO KNIGHTS GO !  |