Team Chiesa/Whiteley won the 2nd Annual Niagara Region Girls' Volleyball Showcase on Thursday night. The match featured four sets, in order to showcase the region's best up and coming volleyball players, with Team Chiesa/Whiteley earning a 4-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-22, 25-20) to defeat Team Rivers/Koslowski.
However it was about more than the score on Tuesday night. The game featured some of the Niagara Region's best and brightest young volleyball players. Additionally the game also served as the first event in the Welland Campus Athletic Centre for new women's volleyball head coach Nathan Janzen. It was Janzen's first opportunity with the Knights to evaluate the breadth of talent developing in the Niagara Region.
On the scoresheet Team Chiesa/Whiteley featured an attack led by Jasmine Lougheed (Laura Second). Lougheed recorded a game high 13 kills to go along with two stuff blocks for 15 points. Kristen Rymarchuk (Westlane) and Edona Demiri (Dennis Morris) each posted five kills. Demiri also added four service aces to her total. Defensively Team Chiesa/Whiteley was paced by libero Madelyn Berg (Governor Simcoe) who had a blistering 18 digs, extending numerous opportunities for her team.
On the other side of the ball the Team Rivers/Koslowski received significant contributions from setters Kylie Fast (EL Crossley) and Amber Marsh (Beamsville) who recorded 29 and 16 assists respectively. On the receiving end were high school teammates Katie Elliot (Governor Simcoe) and Lauren McKenna (Governor Simcoe) who each had a team high five fills. McKenna also contributed a team high five services aces, rounding out a 10 point performance.
The game MVP for Team Chiesa/Whiteley was Jasmine Lougheed. For Team Rivers/Koslowski it was Kylie Fast taking home game MVP honours.
