B.C.'s U16 female provincial volleyball team fought their way to success on the court at the Canada Cup earlier this week, with a strong performance from local Kootenay athletes.
The provincial team won all six of their games July 25 to 28, bringing home gold to B.C for the first time in eight years and rocketing to the top of the charts as the number one U16 female team in Canada. Fernie's Felicia Smith and Cranbrook's Mia Molnar played on the team, alongside other athletes from the coast and the Okanagan who were selected at a regional training camp in Kamloops earlier this summer.
"My overall experience being someone from the Kootenays was really fun, " Molnar said. "It was so amazing meeting all these new people that I've never met or sometimes even seen before and getting to play together with them. It was such a unique experience to show them my abilities coming from such a small town from a club they didn't really know in B.C. The coaching staff was great too and all of the girls on our team became really close friends. I will treasure this experience with them forever," said Mia Molnar, reflecting on her journey and success.
"It's going to be a highlight for a long time. This was the peak of my career, definitely," said Smith.
The teams converged at Tsuut'ina Nation, just west of Calgary.
The team maintained a sizable lead over P.E.I, Alberta and Quebec in their early games with a score of 3-0, but faced greater heat in the quarter and semi finals against Newfoundland and another Alberta team.
They went head-to-head against Alberta in the finals, edging ahead by one point with a final score of 3-2 in a tight game that ran for five sets. Molnar played left and right side, passing and throwing the ball, while Smith played the middle and blocked shots.
B.C came in as the underdog and was not expected to win, as Alberta teams had won multiple years in a row prior.
"It was a point-for-point game and it was just a matter of who wanted it more," she said.
It was the energy of the crowd kept Smith going.
"I love the adrenaline of big crowds and playing close games and feeding off the energy, like loud stands," Smith said. "In Fernie we have home games, and the bleachers are filled and it's just fun. The games are close. They're not easy games. I just love that competition and that level of pushing yourself."
Molnar also shared her favorite moments from the tournament: "The excitement of warming up on the court and waiting to start each match was just thrilling! Knowing that the level of volleyball at this tournament was so high and playing against the best players from each province was unique and different than any club volleyball experience.
"We went undefeated in all our matches. Against the top Alberta team in the finals, with so many fans from BC and Alberta cheering us on, we were down for the first time in the tournament. But we didn’t give up and were able to turn it around and come back to take the next two sets in a row to win the Gold medal! That was an amazing feeling!"
"This achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our athletes and coaches. Our program brings together youth from across the East Kootenays, providing them with meaningful activities that keep them active and engaged," Lanna van der Velden, President of East Kootenay Volleyball Club, "Through sport, we connect families and build lasting relationships."
EKVC, a non-profit organization run by volunteers, provides youth with opportunities to play volleyball beyond school programs. With 208 registered athletes in the 2023/2024 season, they’re expecting even more growth this year. Despite drawing from a smaller pool of athletes compared to larger cities, EKVC athletes have achieved remarkable success.
