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The River City Selects under-15 girls recently captured their first tournament victory of the season, but their focus is squarely on May’s national championship.

The River City Selects under-15 girls club volleyball team sure doesn’t look like a team in its first year of existence.

After splitting off from the Junior Bisons program prior to this season, the River City club took with it a solid core of players that looks like it could compete for a national championship.

The Selects, which assistant coach Andrei Halkewycz says is made up of 10 athletes who could all go on to play volleyball at post-secondary institutions, has been competing primarily against girls a year older.

In their first three tournaments of the club season, the Selects finished second while playing in the under-16 division. Most recently, in their first competition against teams their own age, the Selects won the Volleyblast event hosted by the National Women’s Volleyball Team on March 28.

"The biggest difference is that the 16-year-olds play better defence," said Laura McManes, a power from River Park South who also plays for the Grade 9 team at Glenlawn Collegiate. "The 15-year-old game is still a good game, just different."

Mica Rosier, a junior-varsity team member at Kelvin High School who also plays power, has similar thoughts on playing against older competition.

"It’s pushed us to the next level," said the Crescentwood resident. "It’s challenged us to improve our defence."

With players coming from all corners of the city, and several different school teams, the Selects are a study in team building.

"I always say volleyball is the ultimate team sport," Halkewycz said. "No one player can hog the ball. You always need to communicate."
Halkewycz says he and head coach Luc Tremblay (the founder of the River City Volleyball Club) are fortunate to have a group of players so dedicated to volleyball at an early age.

"It’s an exceptional group," Halkewycz said. "They are tenacious, and get even tougher when they’re under pressure. The last five points of a game are the hardest to get, and this team gets better when the pressure’s on."

Kelsey Storimans, a right side from North Kildonan and at 5-foot-3 the shortest player on the team, is enjoying her first year at the Select level.

"I think it’s gone great," said Storimans, who also plays for the Grade 9 team at John Pritchard School. "I’ve improved so much in the last few months practising with these girls that are so good. It’s been so much fun playing with them."

All three players and their coach agree that they have the potential to make a legitimate run at the national championship in Calgary over the May long weekend.

"We’re doing really well so far, and I think we’re on track," Storimans said.

Rosier said the team is "hoping to medal at nationals. We’re working really hard."

By winning the Manitoba championship, the Selects would guarantee themselves a favourable seeding in the nationals.

"We treat all the tournaments we play in the same," McManes said, "but the provincials and the nationals are the goal."

avi.saper@canstarnews.com