Tuesday, March 20^th will see Niagara College play host to the 4^th annual Niagara Region Girls' Volleyball Showcase at Welland Campus Athletic Centre. The event will feature 24 of the top high school girls' volleyball student-athletes representing 11 high schools from across the Niagara Region.

The athletes will be split into two teams, with each being coached by a pair of rookie student-athletes from the 2018 OCAA women's volleyball silver medalist Niagara Knights. Welland native and former showcase participant Natasha Desjardins (Jean Vanier) will helm one team, while teammate and fellow former showcase participant Tamara Edwards (St. Catharines, Eden) will lead the second team.

"This is an annual event that we really look forward to hosting" said Niagara Knights women's volleyball head coach Nathan Janzen. "The talent level that is put on display every year is simply outstanding. It's important that high school volleyball players are given the chance to shine at the end of the season, and we are excited to again welcome to Region's best on Tuesday night."

In addition to the chance to participate in the showcase high school teammates will have the unique chance to compete against one other. Coaches from each of the 11 participating high schools nominated athletes from their respective teams to participate in the game. In cases where two or more athletes were nominated from the same school, they were split up and will compete on opposite sides of the net adding an additional of friendly competition.

Niagara College began hosting showcase events in June 2014 when Niagara Knights men's and women's soccer head coach Frank DeChellis spearheaded the Niagara Region Soccer Showcase. Volleyball and basketball followed suit in the ensuing years, and now a total of six events comprise the Knights' annual Niagara Region high School showcase series.

Four members of the Knights 2017-18 roster are former participants in the event including Desjardins, Edwards, Nicole Chiesa (Thorold), and Nicole Pirillo (Thorold).

The match will be a best-of-five format with a guarantee of four sets played. The event is free of charge and open to all members of the community. First serve is schedule for 6:00 pm

Team Natasha Desjardins

Montanna Taylor, Setter, Eden

Ashley Earle, Setter, Governor Simcoe

Lauren Vahrmeyer, Outside Hitter, Eden

Kaelyn Emslie, Outside Hitter, Laura Secord

Sydney Porte, Outside Hitter/Setter, Lakeshore Catholic

Veja Lianga, Outside Hitter, EL Crossley

Jenna Pollock, Outside/Middle, Sir Winston Churchill

Mia Nicholson, Middle, Thorold

Mackenzie Kostyk, Middle, Jean Vanier

Kate Fewick, Outside Hitter, AN Myer

Emily White, Denis Morris

Gabriella Lemay , Outside Hitter, Jean Vanier

Team Tamara Edwards

Kate Lafleur, Setter, Laura Secord

Grace Pollard, Setter, Lakeshore Catholic

Abby Julke, Setter, Stamford

Sadie Dick, Outside Hitter, Governor Simcoe

Anna Di Bacco, Outside Hitter, Eden

Emily McKnight, Outside Hitter, Lakeshore Catholic

Shaela Frado, Outside Hitter, EL Crossley

Jenny Connell, Outside Hitter/Setter, Sir Winston Churchill

Julia McPhail, Middle, Jean Vanier

Kathleen Longley, Middle, AN Myer

Maria Wilson, Middle, Stamford

Alexa Villeneuve, Libero, Thorold