Jr. Girls Volleyball Team Captures CISAA Div. 1 Gold
The Junior Girls Volleyball team wrapped up a record setting season with an emphatic championship win on Friday, March 3. Two weeks earlier, the team headed to Havergal College in Toronto for their last game of the regular season. With both teams undefeated at 9-0, the winner of this game would decide the location of the final tournament.
Havergal College had dominated the volleyball scene winning 11 championships in the last 16 years, so they were confident and ready for another win. The CDS team had other plans in mind. The Cyclones entered the Havergal gym focussed and determined to win and were successful in upsetting the long-time winners in three sets, 25-17, 22-25, 25-20. The CDS team captured their first ever undefeated season at the D1 level (the highest level in CISAA athletics).
With this win, CDS was awarded the right to host the CISAA Championship tournament. A large group of students, teachers, and parents held signs, and roared as the Cyclones warmed up for the semi-final match against The York School. It was a sight to see as the fresh new CDS mascot, “Storm”, spun around the gym whirling the crowd into a frenzy. Coach Moorlag noted, “It’s a feeling I’ll never forget. I haven’t seen anything like it. The overwhelming and enthusiastic support for the team was a very proud moment for both myself and the girls.” In the semi-final match, the Cyclones swept easily through the The York School with a 25-8, 25-16 win. The team anxiously waited for the result of the other semi-final, in which Havergal College defeated a very strong team from Branksome Hall. The girls knew the Havergal team was looking for revenge and now they had the opportunity in the Championship final.
Havergal came out strong in the first set. Their determination was solid and their serves and offensive attacks were too much for the Cyclones to handle, ultimately suffering a 25-16 loss in the first set. The girls regrouped, huddled, and were given words of inspiration from coach Moorlag and team captain, Stacey Speranza. “This is our house!”, Stacey shouted. “Let’s do this right now, together. We’ve got this!”. The girls did exactly that. They came together like never seen before. Right-side hitter, Laura Von Schilling, strung together a multitude of blistering serves that put Havergal on their heels. Blocks by Amanda Malowney and Holly Nichols added confidence to our team’s play and the Cyclones captured the second set 25-7.
In the third and final set, the Cyclones worked like a well-oiled machine, a perfect display of teamwork and effort. Amanda Malowney, Savannah Bell, and Alessia Masini punished the Havergal team with hits from all sides. All the while our captain and setter, Stacey Speranza, was calling out plays and providing encouragement and support for her teammates on each and every point. Extra motivation was provided by Heather Hudson, Lauren Adams, Amy Wyndham-West, and Alexandra Nichols who saved us several points by helping to call long-balls in or out. The girls were relentless. Never giving up until the final point. The team jumped and shouted as they captured the third set 25-9 and they realized they were CISAA D1 champions!
It was an unbelievable season with many early mornings and late nights of practice and conditioning. It was all worth it in the end and made for a season to be remembered. A special thanks goes to team manager, Sarah McPhillips, for her dedication this season. Sarah ordered our warm-up jerseys, tabulated team statistics, and provided pizza after home games. The team couldn’t have done it without you, Sarah.
Congratulations Cyclones on your CISAA D1 Junior Girls Volleyball gold medal!
Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
13415 Dufferin Street King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
