The Northern Chill 13U Blizzards are quickly learning the benefit of digging extra deep in a third and final set.

That proficiency would come in particularly handy last weekend in Barrie as the youngest of the local boys’ club teams survived three matches that went the distance on route to a bronze medal performance in a field of 12 teams at the 6 v 6 McGregor Cup – Trillium A tournament.

With the entries broken into four pools of three, the Blizzards took top spot in Pool C with victories over the 41SIX Knights from Toronto (25-17, 25-13) and the Niagara Rapids Tornadoes (25-15-23-25-15-11).

With that experience now safely tucked away under their collective belts, the Sudbury youngsters did it all over again in quarter-final action, moving on to the final four by knocking off Titans Kratos from Scarborough, 23-25, 25-17, 15-12.

The only three-setter that did not go their way was a semi-final encounter with FCVC (Forest City Volleyball Club) Sumac from London, the northern lads coming up just short, 25-23, 19-25, 10-15.

No worries as the Chill found their groove again in the battle for bronze, outlasting the Venom Menace from Richmond Hill, 25-19, 17-25, 15-9.

The Northern Chill U13 Blizzards congregates the synergistic skill sets of Selim Ibrahim, Henry Case, Jace Seguin, Caleb Zakamarko, Matteo Lachapelle, Reid Cayer, Ajay Martin, Skyler Trottier, head coach Ashleigh Conley, assistant coach Cindy Seguin and team manager Michelle Martin.