The third ranked team in Division 2 (the second bracket of 16 teams in the province) entering the Ontario Championships, there was limited upward mobility potential available to the Northern Chill 18U Black Vortex girls – considering that one cannot jump divisions once the groupings for provincials are set.

Simply maintaining their spot among the very best of their peer group would have to be the goal – one which the Vortex accomplished quite well, recording a five game win streak to start their tournament before coming up just a little short on day three.

The Chill navigated the first pooling successfully, downing the Chatham Ballhawks (25-18, 25-21), Defensa PK from Burlington (28-26, 20-25, 15-8) and the Titans Kairos from Scarborough (22-25, 25-15, 17-15).

No need to change things up on day two (re-pooling) as the Sudbury girls extend their run of victories to five, outscoring Pakmen Black from Mississaga (25-22, 20-25, 15-13) and the Kingston Rock Diamond (25-20, 25-20) before finally tasting defeat versus the Storm Twister from Aurora (25-17, 15-25, 10-15).

Make or break time in the Division 2 Tier 1 grouping of eight finds the 18U Black Vortex prevailing in quarter final action over KW (Kitchener-Waterloo) Preds Embrace (25-21, 25-17) but unable to build on that momentum while facing either the Titans Chaos in the semis (21-25, 25-19, 9-15) or the Pakmen Black in a bronze medal rematch (19-25, 19-25).

Overall, not a whole lot to complain about for the 2025-2026 edition of the Chill 18U Black Vortex - Mya Balfe, Elsa Blum, Maili Jutila, Mara Kahl, Madison Paris, Ellie Renaud, Nyah Robinson, Lilah Selby, Isabella Sooley, Cate Verlaan, Riley Larochelle, head coach Guy Perreault, assistant coach Lindsay Digby and team manager Jenn Selby – as their season comes to an end.