Digby volleyball team has great experience
The senior girls varsity A volleyball team from Digby Regional High School recently competed in one of the largest, well-known volleyball tournaments in Canada for the second year in a row. Volleyfest took place at Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland Oct. 24 and 25. Over 2,300 athletes, both junior and senior, took part in this competitive event.
“I wanted to show them where I grew up and give them the opportunity to participate in the largest school-based tournament in Canada,” said Sharyn Hiscock, coach for DRHS’s sr. girls volleyball team.
Hiscock has been coaching girls volleyball for over five years and has always wanted to share a part of her life with her team, she said.
“The experience of taking them showed me really what teamwork means.”
The volleyball team played their first two matches on the Friday evening, winning both games in two sets. On the Saturday morning they started off with a win – again, winning their match in two sets.
After that they were now set to play Lakewood, the defending champions of 2018, and whom they previously played, and lost to, last year. It was the game everybody was waiting for. Digby stayed strong and won their fourth match in a row. Stacey Andrews, co-captain of the volleyball team, described the moment as “bittersweet”.
Janelle Andrews, also co-captain of the team, said they played harder than the team has ever played before, and the amount of respect that each player has for their teammates, coaches, and parents has increased so much.
“The games we played were awesome, but the time we spent off the court was what made the trip so special.” Andrews said.
Throughout the summer the team held many fundraisers in their community, with the help of their coaching staff and parents. They held a car wash, a washer toss tournament, a barbecue fundraiser during Wharf Rat Rally, they bagged groceries, sold tickets, and even hosted a volleyball tournament prior to their big trip to Newfoundland.
Sadly for the Digby team, the tournament came to an end as they played their fifth match of the day against a fellow rivalry. The Digby team lost to Par-En-Bas in two sets. PEB eventually went on to win the tournament.
Digby finished in joint 3rd place for the second year in a row.
John Gumbly also coaches the senior girls team at Digby High and has spent many years alongside these girls coaching them and watching them grow as a player and as a person.
“I truly feel inspired that I have given these girls a memory of a lifetime,” said Gumbly. “I am so proud that I was a part of it, and even prouder that they wanted me to be a part of it.”
Gumbly said the team played some of their best volleyball games during Volleyfest this season, and he is proud of the team’s performance and finish.