Undefeated Olympiens win provincials

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This article was published 27/11/2015 (3815 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

To say they’ve had a standout season could be considered a massive understatement.

Collège Jeanne-Sauvé Olympiens recently won the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association AAAA Junior Varsity Girls provincial volleyball championship after an undefeated season totalling 41 games, which included league, tournament and provincial play. In those 41 games, the team won 98 out of 103 sets.  

The team’s season culminated with a 3-0 final championship game victory over Selkirk Royals on Nov. 23 at the University of Manitoba Investor’s Group Athletic Centre. Olympiens players Katreena Bentley, Erika Vermette, and Julia Arnold were named on the all-star team and Arnold was named the tournament MVP.

The team was co-coached this season by Nicole Vercaigne, Camilla Thorne-Tjomsland, Laura Watson, and Kevin Levesque.

For Vercaigne, the phenomenal season marked a full-circle return to her high school roots. A former CJS student and volleyball star, the 23-year-old St. Vital resident was helping out this season after finishing her studies at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay.

“The girls did phenomenally well,” Vercaigne said. “It’s been a great season, and it’s still sinking in. We all had high expectations, but it was really all about taking it one game at a time.”

Vercaigne said the team and the coaches sat down at the start of the season to outline their goals and objectives for the season, and she was delighted with how the team developed and evolved as the season progressed.

“We sat down at the start of the year and outlined some individual goals for the girls. A lot of it is still about development, and it was fun to challenge them to become better players and a better team. Halfway through the season, they all said they want to go to the provincials,” Vercaigne said.

“We can have a volleyball legacy at the school, and the last time we won the provincial title was 2006, so we’ve certainly thrived on the challenge of playing against schools double our size. It’s definitely been a competitive season and to get to that extra has been a special achievement. It’s been wonderful to be part of that, and it’s been great for the school.”

Vercaigne said what maximizes the significance of the team’s recent success is that around half of the players are from Grade 9, while the other half are from Grade 10.

“It’s a very young team, and the blend of players made things a little bit different,” she said.

And in terms of coaching volleyball, Vercaigne said she thrives on the challenge.

“I love being able to bring together a group of girls to mentor and coach. It’s all about being a team and supporting each other and taking on different roles, as well as learning life lessons. There’s something really special about the whole experience,” Vercaigne said.  

simon.fuller@canstarnews.com

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