The Northern Chill U18 girls are not likely to cross paths, all that often, with teams representing the Ottawa Valley Vikings volleyball club over the course of a typical OVA season. Given that fact, the two organizations certainly made the most of their time together, as both groups competed at the Provincial Cup – Trillium D tournament earlier this month in Barrie.

The squads combined for a titanic tilt to open the day, with the Chill holding on for a 30-28, 22-25, 15-13 decision over the Ottawa Valley Vikings – Fury. That effort may have sapped the Sudbury crew, just a tad, as they closed out pool play with a 16-25, 20-25 setback at the hands of the Orillia Suns – Prominence.

A second place finish and cross-over match would find the Chill staring down another set of Ottawa Valley jerseys, with coach Heather Hastie and company getting the better of the Ottawa Valley Vikings – Marauders 25-22, 25-19.

Quarter final play featured a compelling battle with a very talented E381 (Etobicoke) KikiD outfit, the Chill falling 19-25, 18-25 to the eventual tournament champions. One final match await, the victors securing fifth place (of twelve), the loser relegated to seventh, as the Chill and Vikings – Fury met for a second time.

Again, the locals emerged victorious, again in three sets, downing the Ottawa Valley contingent 16-25, 25-18, 15-13. “Overall, this was a good warm-up for the rest of our season,” said Hastie. “There were many positives, and things to work on, before our tournament next month.”

“Dara Desrochers was an all-around solid performer from the left side through the day,” Hastie added. “Setter Erin Gaffney consistently made smart decisions on the net and generated offensive opportunities from every part of the court.”

The 2018-2019 edition of the Northern Chill 18U team also includes Jayden Rivers, Ryann Hudson, Taylor Bailey, Jaime Schweyer, Mallory Frantz, Sydney Koehler, Kate Dugdale and assistant coach Kristen Sheffield.