The inaugural Niagara Region Volleyball Showcase, featuring 27 of the top senior girls from high schools throughout the region, will take place Thursday, March 26^th at the Niagara College Athletic Centre in Welland, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The showcase event, presented by the Niagara College women's volleyball program, was created to promote the sport and to give high school teammates a chance to compete against one another for bragging rights.

"The event is an excellent opportunity for the Region's best high school volleyball athletes to come together and showcase the level of play that exists in Niagara", said Niagara College women's volleyball head coach Joey Martins.

The Niagara Region Volleyball Showcase participants will represent 18 high schools ranging from Beamsville to A.N. Myer. Four student-athletes from the 2014-15 OCAA bronze medal Niagara College women's volleyball program will be putting their volleyball IQ on display as they have been tasked with coaching the game.  Reigning female athlete of the year Alexandria Botelho (Stoney Creek) will be paired with rookie middle blocker Devin Lowes (Oakville) as the coaches for Team Niagara.  The coaches for Team Knights will be third year outside hitter Kayde Bailey (Burlington) and first year setter Caytlin Alyman (North Bay).

Martins continued, "It is important that the Niagara College women's volleyball program assumes a leadership role in showcasing volleyball across the Region, and it will be exciting to see the sport get a night of its own.  These athletes deserve to be rewarded for all their accomplishments throughout their high school careers."

The event is being run in support of the Niagara College Student Administrative Council's student emergency food bank. In order to register for the event, participants are required to make a non-perishable food donation.

Niagara College began hosting showcases dating back to June 2014; starting with the Niagara Region Soccer Showcase presented by Niagara College men's and women's soccer head coach Frank DeChellis.  Also, Nathan Groenveld, head coach of the Niagara College men's volleyball program, hosted a Niagara Region boys' volleyball showcase in December of last year.

First-serve for the Niagara Region girls' volleyball showcase is set for March 26^th at 6:30 p.m.  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 with a non-perishable food item.