Sabres return for volleyball gold

      Summers' Corners defeats Northridge in the TVDSB AAA girls' final 

          December 2, 2017

By Rob J. Ross

LONDON, ON -   Their emotions were much different for the Summers'' Corners Sabres this time around.

The Sabres captured the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) AAA girls' volleyball title, defeating the London Northridge Knights, 12-25, 25-17, 15-9, in the final.

A year ago, Summers' Corners had to settle for silver, falling to London Westmount in the final.

"This year we came back for redemption. The girls wanted to prove they could do it," Sabres' coach Greg Broadhead said. "It's remarkable. These girls put a lot of work in."

Northridge started the best of three game gold medal match on fire, rocketing to a 12-0 lead, on their way to taking game one.

"Volleyball is all about momentum and they (Northridge) got off to a good start. They had a lot of momentum but we were able to take it in the second game. Our girls stayed mentally strong," Broadhead said. "We've been down a couple times this year in tournaments. Win or lose, we always stick together as a team and that was a big difference. I'm so proud of those girls."

The Sabres quickly brushed that result aside and produced a quick start of their own, jumping out to 12-3 lead, in game two.

"They got their game off to a good start with some big serves. Once we got our serves going, it gave us a lot of momentum. By that point, we were feeling pretty good (heading into third game). We went out there and executed."

Game three was 8-6 in favour of the Sabres, before the attack of Joslynn Henderson and co-captains Selecia Wall and Julie Nagelhout, put the Knights away.

"We were kind of nervous (pre-final). They (Knights) came out and showed us that they were strong, but we fought through and got the win. It feels good," said Sabre Ella Cattrysse. "We stuck together. I feel our serves were bang on and our passes to the setter were great, so that made a big impact on our game."

Summers' Corners cruised through pool play with a 6-0 record, before taking their semi-final handily, against London Jack Chambers, 25-9, 25-12. 

Cattrysse will represent the Sabres, on the South-West regional team, at upcoming the TVDSB all-star game.

For complete Valley championship results.

Dorchester Northdale Central went 1-5, in the same pool as Summers' Corners.

"We got off to a slow start, but what I was really pleased with, in terms of momentum shifts, we were able to turn it around for a few games. It is difficult in volleyball. You have to put a whole game together. We were finding that difficult against such experienced teams," Northdale Central coach Jeremie Roselle said. "I loved some of our positive momentum shifts and saw a lot of great pass-set attack volleyball. It's a great experience for us. In terms of development, from where we started in September to where we are now, gold medal development."

In AAA boys, the Southwold Cougars brought home the silver medal. London Jack Chambers captured the gold, defeating Southwold, 25-10, 25-15). Mitchell Hepburn didn't advance from pool play.

At the girls' AA tournament, the Locke's Lions went 5-1 in pool play, but lost both their semi-final and bronze medal match, to finish fourth. London White Oaks took the bronze, squeaking out a pair of wins against the Lions, 26-24, 25-22.

Over in girls' 1A action, the New Sarum Huskies won bronze, defeating Emily Stowe, out of Norwich, 25-22, 12-25, 16-14.

At the boys' 1A tournament, the West Nissouri Wildfire, out of Thorndale, took home the bronze, taking care of Woodstock Southside, 25-23, 20-25, 15-11. The Sparta Stingers were unable to advance from their pool.