Adam Prudhomme
Editor
NDSS’ junior girls volleyball team continued to re-write school history on Wednesday, defeating Pembroke’s Bishop Smith Crusaders in three sets on NDSS’ home court to capture the EOSSAA crown.
The victory marked the first time a Hawks volleyball team has won the Eastern Ontario regional title.
Securing the title wasn’t easy as the Hawks and Crusaders went toe-to-toe in the finals, going the distance in the best-of-three set battle. Napanee grabbed the first set 25-16 before the Crusaders responded with a 25-22 victory in the second.
That meant the championship would come down to a winner-take-all third set, first to 15.
NDSS’ Ashley Baker sets up her teammates. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Both teams were unwilling to give an inch as neither side was able to build a comfortable lead with the score going from 7-7, 10-10 to 14-14. Once tied at 14, the winning team would have to go up by two to claim the match.
NDSS’ Vienna Balance-Hinch served up the two crucial points needed to etch the 2023 Hawks’ into volleyball history. She finished with a team high nine points with Ashlyn Baker adding eight and Lauren Reid contributing seven.
NDSS’ Sadie Lupton igniting a 14-0 run with her serves against Cornwall in round robin play at the EOSSAA championship. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Napanee was a perfect 4-0 en route to the title, starting the day off with a 2-0 (25-11, 25-20) win over Cornwall to open the round robin. After breezing through the first set the Hawks found themselves down 13-0 to start the second set. After scrounging for a point to break the Raiders’ run, the Hawks turned to Sadie Lutpon to serve, who ignited a 14-0 run for the Hawks. They never looked back from there, going on to win the set and finish the sweep.
NDSS’ Gabby Cammaart gets set to smash the ball. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Reid and Lutpon both had seven points while Balance-Hinch had six and Gabby Cammaart had five.
Napanee followed that game with a 2-0 (25-15, 25-23) sweep of Perth DCI. Balance-Hinch notched 10 points, Reid with six and Avery Sabramsky-Nichol recorded four.
NDSS’ Lauren Reid tips the ball over the net. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
After finishing in the top spot of their pool, the Hawks took on North Grenville DHS in the semifinals.
Napanee punched their ticket to the finals with another sweep (25-13, 25-20). Balance-Hinch had six points, Ashley Hudgins had four and Cammaart added three.
Though the EOSSAA title was a first for Napanee, it may just be the start of long run for this program as the juniors will have plenty of time to play together as a unit in the coming two to three seasons.
the NDSS Golden Hawks junior girls volleyball team celebrate after winning the EOSSAA championship. Submitted photo.