V-ball players put best spike forward
Churchill, Eden players named MVPs at Niagara high school showcase
Boys high school volleyball in the region was the big winner when Niagara College hosted a showcase Thursday night in Welland.
Officially, Team Blue defeated Team White in four sets — 2624, 18-25, 25-16, 32-30 — an allstar game the featured upwards of 40 student athletes from 18 high schools in Niagara.
Unofficially, it was the sport itself and the fans at the Athletic Centre in Welland who gained the most from the fourth annual competition.
“Great showcase last night,” Nathan Groenveld, head coach of the men’s volleyball team at the college, said. “The level of play last night was incredibly high, and it was a great display of the quality of players, coaches and teams we have in high school volleyball in Niagara.
“There was a great atmosphere in the gym last night with a good crowd.
“We have an amazing volleyball community here in Niagara and they came out in full support.”
Teams were coached by Groenveld’s players and Sir Winston Churchill outside hitter Alexander Mrkalji was selected Team Blue’s most valuable player.
“Mrkalji was unstoppable as an attacker and from the baseline as a server,” Groenveld said. “He put on a show last night with some amazing spikes at some unreal angles.”
Eden’s Josiah Esau, who played multiple positions in the showcase, was named player of the game for Team White.
“Josiah Esau is a very skilled volleyball player,” Groenveld said. “He continued to play at a very high level, while lining up as a setter, right side and middle blocker.
“The kid has a bright future ahead of him.”
Team Blue included Stephan Legagneur, Jean Vanier; Kole Popat, Welland Centennial; Connor Vanderkuip, Smithville Christian; Matthew Ferron, Holy Cross; Mathew Collision, Saint. Michael; Alex Page, Saint Paul); Bailey Stewart, Thorold; Michael Lavassuer, Stamford; Jesse Raso, Notre Dame; Joel Coopman, Greater Fort Erie; Micah Niewets, Eden; Patrick Alvarez, Blessed Trinity; Matt Calverly, E.L. Crossley; Vangel Matic, A.N. Myer; Dallas Melnick, A.N. Myer; Andrew Sindall, Beamsville; and Dayton Follick, St. Francis.
Also on Team White were Thomas Rigas-DiDomenico, A.N. Myer; Jacob Fontaine, Jean Vanier; Anthony Perna, Welland Centennial; Jordan VanHerwynen, Smithville Christian; Adam Topolinsky, Holy Cross; Dan Kessler, Saint Michael; Matthew MacLean, Saint Paul; Braydon Harrietha, Thorold; Ethan Wilding, Stamford; Will Spencer, Sir Winston Churchill; Ethan Vannatter, Greater Fort Erie; Dylan DiFabio, Blessed Trinity; Justin Levere, Blessed Trinity; Forest Turpel, E.L. Crossley; Omesh Jayaweera, A.N. Myer; Tanner Vail, Beamsville; and Alex D’Elia, St. Francis.
The first of two high school showcases in as many weeks featured players from two teams that settled for silver medals at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations championships this year. Sir Winston Churchill finished second at the boys triple A volleyball championships in Kitchener-Waterloo and Eden was the top runner-up at the double A provincial championships in Brockville.
Today the college’s men’s and women’s basketball programs host their second annual showcase for high school players in Niagara.
A doubleheader tipping off with the girls game at 6 p.m. features 67 players representing 20 schools in the region. Action at the Athletic Centre wraps up with the boys game starting at 8 p.m.
Niagara College women’s basketball head coach Mike Beccaria was instrumental in establishing a showcase for high school basketball last December.
“Last year was outstanding for our sport,” he said. “Our showcase is designed to give players from every team an opportunity to come together and celebrate the current state of basketball in Niagara.
Mike Hurley, head coach of the Knights men’s team, is also looking forward to tonight’s doubleheader.
“There is so much basketball skill across Niagara region, and it’s going to be great to see all of this talent on display.