Barry Coulter
The East Kootenay Volleyball Club U-14 Avalanche have returned home as national gold medallists.
The squad, comprised of players from Cranbrook, Fernie and Creston, took Gold in the Tier 2 category in Volleyball Canada's 2015 National Championships, held in Calgary May 14-19.
The Avalanche played May 14, 15 and 16 at the Olympic Oval.
More than 10,000 athletes converged on Calgary for the event, representing teams from all over Canada.
The Avalanche had six matches over the first two days of pool play, facing some tough teams. And while they were relegated to Tier 2 for the playoffs, Coach Rob Mogielka said those matches were played close and competitive and could have gone either way.
On Day 3, Saturday, May 16, the Avalanche took part in some tight, closely fought matches in the Tier 2 (there were four tiers in all) quarter-finals and semi-finals, with each match going three sets. But the Avalanche prevailed throughout the Gold Medal final against the squad from Niagara Rapids, Ontario.
The finish leaves the East Kootenay Volleyball Club Avalanche ranked 11th in Canada.
The EKVC season this year consisted of two premier tournaments in Calgary, the home tournament Cranbrook Cup (which the Avalanche won) and Provincials in Edmonton.