By Alison Martin
Winterlude wasn’t the only tradition “served” up in Ottawa on the first weekend of February. The 16th Glashan Girls’ Invitational Volleyball Tournament (also called the Eastern Ontario Invitational) ran Feb. 4 to 7.
The tournament was originally to take place Jan. 14-17, but was re-scheduled due to the ice storm.
Teams from Ontario and Quebec compete in three divisions of varying calibre. In total, over 600 girls on 50 teams entered the round-robin tournament. Team expenses were $65 per registered team plus accomodation and travel costs.
“It’s important for us to have a high participation level and just to encourage girls to get involved,” says Vivian Gates, Glashan school physical education teacher and tournament coordinator.
Gates organized the competition with the assistance of 15 other staff members including the principal and vice-principal of Glashan school.
Glashan’s own “Spikers”, coached by Gates, captured the championship title in division “A”, while Metcalfe earned the silver. Fisher school received the bronze medal.
After a slow start, Glashan took the first set easily, 15-6. Metcalfe rallied back in the second and nearly forced a third set. Glashan captain Chloe Engel claimed the title for her team and ended the match with a tense 17-15 win.
Though Engel enjoyed the “competition and level” of the tournament, the relaxed player says she just “likes having fun.”
The captain of Scarborough’s Birch Cliff public school felt the same way.
“The people and competition were nice…the event was great.” says Meghan MacSween.
Her team won the gold medal in the “B” division.
Birch Cliff dominated their opponents Ottawa locals, Broadview and posted a 15-0 score in the final set of the championship match.
Jim Sheppard, Birch Cliff’s principal and the team’s coach, was verbal — though a bit optimistic — in his rating of his team’s abilities.
“This is the year (we) go all the way!” said Sheppard
Another Glashan team met Russell 2 in the final match of the “C” division. The hosts of the tournament took the gold medal and Russell 2 had to settle for the silver.
Winners of all divisions received medals and trophies in the annual tournament.
The postponement allowed visiting teams to enjoy this year’s Winterlude and to tour the sites of the Capital.
“It’s been both an educational and athletic event,” says John Belcher of Birch Cliff School.
Glashan School will continue the tradition next year with volleyball events in both boys and girls competitions.