YouSA国际影视传媒檝e heard these sorts of stories begin like this: team hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 travelled in two years, no tournaments to play, players nervous about how theySA国际影视传媒檒l do, team goes out and wins division at provincial championship and goes undefeated to do it.

If you havenSA国际影视传媒檛, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 how it played out for the Crush Volleyball ClubSA国际影视传媒檚 17U girls squad in Calgary last weekend.

The group of young ladies went out and captured top spot in Division 3 at the Volleyball Alberta Provincial Championships in Calgary this past Sunday. They did so by beating FOG (Friends of George) Red out of Edmonton in straight sets in the best-of-three final SA国际影视传媒� their sixth straight win of the tournament to go against not one loss.

It was the first time the ladies had hit the road in two-plus years and Mike Mathison, one of the teamSA国际影视传媒檚 coaches, said there wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 too much pressure on the girls going in.

SA国际影视传媒淲e had no idea what to expect because we havenSA国际影视传媒檛 seen anything outside the NWT in a couple of years,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚t was a chance to play and get ready for nationals.SA国际影视传媒�

The team was in Division 3 simply because thatSA国际影视传媒檚 where they were placed by the tournament organizers. Teams are put in a division based mostly on how they perform at the Volleyball Alberta Premier Tournaments, which are held prior to provincials. Because the Crush didnSA国际影视传媒檛 play in any of the three tournaments in their age category, they were automatically placed in Division 3.

And not only were they put there, they were the bottom seed: eighth out of eight.

SA国际影视传媒淭here was no budging on that from the organizers,SA国际影视传媒� said Mathison. SA国际影视传媒淏ecause we hadnSA国际影视传媒檛 played until now, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what we were given.SA国际影视传媒�

They began in pool play versus the Tri Area Warriors out of Spruce Grove, Alta.; the Kodiaks out of Cranbrook, B.C.; and SAVC Shock of Calgary. They would win all three of their pool play contests to go into the playoffs unbeaten, where they would play the Warriors in the quarter-final. After beating them for a second time, the ladies would face off with the Edson Elite, the top team from the other pool, in the semifinal. That match would go all three sets but the NWT athletes would prevail to move on and beat FOG Red in the final.

SA国际影视传媒淚t worked out really well for us,SA国际影视传媒� said Mathison. SA国际影视传媒淚t played out perfectly, and it was a real good confidence-builder for the girls.SA国际影视传媒�

There were individual honours for Tamara Mathison and Oleta Duru as both were named to the divisionSA国际影视传媒檚 all-star team following completion of the tournament.

Now itSA国际影视传媒檚 on to the Volleyball Canada Youth Nationals in Edmonton and the ladies will be in action starting on May 19. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 whatSA国际影视传媒檚 known as a SA国际影视传媒榮uper-nationalSA国际影视传媒� this year with all teams in every division within the age category converging on the Alberta capital, as opposed to having certain divisions being played in different cities.

Mathison said nationals is usually a good set-up.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou usually get seeded with one of the big teams and a couple of others and you see how you do after day one,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淵ou go into another section on day two and by the time youSA国际影视传媒檙e in the playoffs, you end up where you should be. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 good to get some wins under our belt before we go and get some confidence.SA国际影视传媒�