Orillia Suns Heatwave U14 girls volleyball team wins bronze at Provincial Championships
WATERLOO, Ontario. — Brother and sister team have joined forces to coach this amazing group of U14 girls in this past volleyball season. Kim and John Besse brought together a team for the 2021/2022 season. It was a challenge for all sports teams through the pandemic and volleyball was no exception as there were no games and little time for practice throughout the past couple of years. Finally, as 2021/2022 restrictions loosened up the team sports were back in action…almost.
Practices were able to take place from September through April (with the January lockdown exception). All the teams patiently waited for the lifting of tournament restrictions to follow suit, which happened at last right near Easter of 2022. In March the OVA (Ontario Volley Association) was able to put on the annual tournament in Waterloo, Ontario.
Volleyball players gathered from all over Ontario to join their teams in competition at RIM Park, in Waterloo. The Orillia Suns Heatwave U14 girls brought together 11 young ladies with heart, strength and determination to build a team and head to provincials with gumption.
As they entered into competition mode the team had a strong chemistry. “They worked hard all season and peaked at just the right time,” says Kim.
The team captain was named for the Provincials, Ava Rouse, she did an incredible job leading her team to success. Along with their very catchy pre-game cheer put together by teammate Maida Perry and Riley Blacks continual motivation keeping player hyped with her “we got this” chants the team was always pumped to play.
The Orillia Suns Heatwave entered into these Provincial Championships ranking 15th out of 28 teams (in division 3). Coach Kim says proudly “Lots of hard work and determination throughout the whole season kept these girls reaching for their goals. These young ladies have a real ‘can do’ attitude and worked together as a team to make good things happen.”
The continued efforts of this team of ladies and their team of coaches they all brought their team into the finals of this provincial level competition and came home with a big BRONZE medal! “Our tournament record was 8 wins, one loss. We were undefeated in a round robin play. The only match lost was the semi-final, in a very close 15-13 third set,” Coach Kim describes.
So, after a long time with no actual live play, this team came shining through in the end to place 5th in the OVA tournament in Niagara Falls in March and then coming home with bronze medal from the Ontario Championships!
These girls have certainly earned bragging rights and a reason to wear those big glowing smiles, loads of hug and high fives and perhaps even a celebratory ice cream from Coach John.
Congratulations Girls!!
#2 – Ava Rouse
#7 – Ariel Fogarty
#9 – Ryley Black
#11 – Emma Dongelmans
#12 – Ellaina Murdoch
#14 – Sydney Besse
#16 – Ali Rolston
#17 – Elgin Nicoletta
#21 – Maida Perry
#22 – Sierra Hazlewood
#46 – Camryn Knee
Coaches – Kim Besse, John Besse
Manager – Sue Besse
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