Toronto District Christian High School (TDCH) in Woodbridge, Ontario, is celebrating victory, raising the 2015 Volleyball Champions pennant. The senior girls volleyball team won the OFSAA Single A tournament on Wednesday, March 11. The OFSAA tournament (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations) was held from March 9-11 at Hamilton District Christian High in Ancaster, Ontario. This is the first provincial title won by the school.
Several team members were away on a school mission trip to the Dominican Republic, so younger players were brought up to complete the team. Janelle Albert of Crosspoint Christian Reformed Church in Brampton, Ontario, loved being part of the team. This was her second time at the provincial play-offs. Albert, a grade 10 student, has been playing organized volleyball since she was ten. “It’s really fun. We always try to stay positive, to each other and the other teams, keeping it fun competition.”
“Volleyball is truly a team sport, where every player has to work together,” said Judy Van Schepen, coach and teacher at TDCH for 25 years. “The girls played so well, with great effort and communication.”
Despite the challenges of bringing new players to the team late in the season, the TDCH team won almost all their games in the tournament. In the final gold medal match against Esc. Monseigneur-Bruyere from London, Ontario, the TDCH team triumphed, winning every set with final scores of 25-18, 25-8 and 25-15.
“As a coach, it’s one of those moments that makes you so proud,” said Van Schepen. “The girls were really on fire and everything clicked. It was artistry in motion.”
About the Author
Krista Dam-VandeKuyt is a member of Kemptville CRC and lives with her family in Ottawa, Ontario.
