Thursday, December 11th will see Niagara's best high school boys' volleyball players play in the first annual Niagara Region Volleyball Showcase, presented by the Niagara College Knights. The event will see 30 high school boys volleyball players from across the Niagara Region compete in a showcase game at Niagara College's Welland campus athletic centre. First serve for the showcase is set for 7:00 pm.
"The event is an excellent opportunity for the Region's best volleyball athletes to come together and showcase the level of play that exists in Niagara" said Niagara College men's volleyball head coach Nathan Groenveld. "The Fall high school semester is a busy time of year, and sometimes volleyball gets mixed in with all of the other activities happening simultaneously. This event will hopefully give volleyball a signature night that wraps up the 2014 season for the participants."
The Niagara Region Volleyball Showcase participants will represent 15 high schools ranging from Smithville to Port Colborne.
The event will pit the assistant coaches of the Niagara College men's volleyball program against the volleyball program's team captains. Assistant coaches Brad Wall and Mike Molnar will lead one team, while Niagara College men's volleyball team captains Steve Stone (St. Catharines), Ben Fillmore (Cayuga), and Bailey Cochrane (Barrie) will lead the other.
Stone competed for five seasons as a member of the powerhouse Eden Flyers where he captured three OFSAA Championships. He commented "it's great to see an event like this highlight the local talent in the area." As an added incentive, opposing Coach Brad Wall is also an Eden graduate and former OFSAA champion. Stone continued "it really is going to be a lot of fun standing on the same sidelines facing off against my current coaches."
Groenveld continued "Reception and feedback to the event from the local schools has been very positive. It's important that the Niagara College men's volleyball program assumes a leadership role in helping develop volleyball across the Region, and it should be exciting to see the sport get a night of its own."
The event is being run in support of the Niagara College Student Administrative Council's student emergency foodbank. In order to register for the event, participants are required to make a non-perishable food donation.
The volleyball showcase event follows the Niagara Region Soccer Showcase held in June by Niagara College men's and women's soccer head coach Frank DeChellis. Additionally, Joey Martins, head coach of the Niagara College women's volleyball program will be hosting a Niagara Region girls' volleyball showcase at the conclusion of the 2014-15 high school girls' volleyball season.
First-serve for the Niagara Region boys' volleyball showcase is set for December 11th at 7:00 pm. The event will be live broadcasted by Niagara College Broadcasting, Radio, Television, and Film students.
Interested parties are welcome to attend the event and admission is free. Spectators are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food donation in support of the student emergency foodbank.