A full, healthy roster can do wonders for any team.

In the case of the Northern Chill 13U Girls, it was enough to help them register their first podium finish of the season, claiming bronze at the Challenge Cup – Trillium “E” tournament earlier this month in Sturgeon Falls.

An eight team draw would create a pair of four team round robin pools, with the Chill splitting their six preliminary sets right down the middle. The locals opened strong, sweeping past the Georgian Cubs – Red from Barrie (25-14, 25-13), but lost both outings to the eventual champion Markham Unity North, 13-25, 17-25.

Facing the host West Nipissing Wild in game three, the Chill went 1-1, capturing the first set 25-21, but dropping set two 13-25. Sitting third in their pool, it would make for a tough cross-over match if the Sudbury girls wanted to reach their pre-tournament goal of playing for a medal.

Needing a win to advance to the final four, coach Glenn Murray and company slipped past the North Bay Lakers 25-18, 19-25, 15-11, avenging an earlier tournament loss to their northern rivals that kept them out of a semi-final battle back in November.

The celebration was brief, as the Chill faced Markham for a second time, providing a stiff test for the Unity in a 22-25, 12-25 loss. But with bronze medals on the line, the 13U crew were back in fine form, stopping the Venom Vipers (Richmond Hill) 25-10, 17-25, 15-10.

“For the first time in a long time, we actually had a healthy squad going into this tournament,” noted coach Murray. “Lindsay Murray had some really big swings and made good on many of her serves, and it was really nice to finally have Alexie Chicoine back in the lineup with her solid play.”

Rounding out the 2017-2018 team roster are Kayla Bouffard, Kameryn Van Wallegham, Gabrielle Comeau, Emma Harris, Shanna Lessard, Abby Ayotte, Ashley Ruddick, Alyssa Nicholls, Emily Audette and Annie Simon.