With a healthy mix of beach volleyball talent from both northern Ontario (Sudbury / Sault Ste Marie / North Bay) and a sprinkling from the Toronto area, the local 15U Premier tandem of Ellie Renaud and Madison Paris knew they would have their work cut out for them in North Bay recently, even after earning gold at a June tournament in Barrie.

The Sudbury contingent at this age bracket is a strong one with the likes of Isabella Sooley, Maili Jutila, Mara Kahl, Lilah Selby and Isabella MacIsaac also on hand and the Renaud/Paris duo opening play with a straight set win over Northern Chill Volleyball Club teammates Isabelle Renaud and Avery Gauvreau.

The locals would go three sets with the Toronto team of Georgiev and Gravel before rebounding in the quarter finals and besting Kahl and Gibbs in the semis.

Georgiev and Gravel would be waiting, but this time around it was time for the northern stars to shine as three set thriller sets the stage for what should be an outstanding weekend of volleyball come time for provincials in mid-August at Ashbridges Bay along the shores of Lake Ontario.