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Kevin Nagel Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Hurricanes win third straight national title By Herb Garbutt Burlington Post staff Sports 25 | Friday, May 13, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" The Halton Hurricanes were mowing down the competition at the Canadian Volleyball Championships, much like you would expect from the two-time defending champs. After opening their semifinal match with a 25-23 over Pakmen, the Hurricanes had won 17 straight sets in Edmonton. But when their Ontario rivals battled back to even the match with a 25-21 victory, the Hurricanes found themselves in an eerily familiar position. A month earlier at the Ontario championships, Aurora's Storm Vortex had rallied from a set down to upset the Hurricanes in the semifinals as Halton settled for a provincial bronze. "We're one of the best teams at coming back. We're a team that does not like to lose," said Hurricanes' setter Laura Madill. "When it comes to a third set, it's always going to be a dog fight, but we're very experienced." The Hurricanes' experience would pay off with a 15-9 victory that sent the team back to the national final. Halton met another Ontario rival, London Volleyball Club, in the under-17 championship game. The teams had split their two meetings this season. The Hurricanes jumped out to a big lead in the opening set only to have London fight back to tie the score. Halton would again pull away to take the opener 25-19. In the second set, Halton took another early lead but this time maintained it throughout the set. With Halton ahead 24-18, Vanessa Roscoe pounded the ball off a London block, sending it past the London defenders for the game-winning point. "It was incredible," said Madill, who was named the tournament's most valuable player for the second year in a row. "To win three times in a row is insane. It didn't really hit me until afterward." Madill was one of seven players to play for all three national champions, a group that first came together years earlier. "The core of our team had all been part of the Volley Girls academy in Grade 5," said Madill, a Grade 10 student at St. Mildred's Lightbourn. "We all went our own Oakville Gym Club hosting national aerobic, acrobatic meets Oakville will welcome more than 200 elite athletes and coaches later this month for the National Acrobatics Cup and Aerobics Invitational. Included among those athletes are top competitors from Europe and the U.S. The event, scheduled for May 27-29, is considered Canada's premier acrobatics and aerobics event. Acrobatic group gymnastics performances involve complex balances, dynamic throws and catches and intricate choreography. Aerobic gymnastics routines blend explosive dance elements with high energy leaps and spins. Hosted by the Oakville Gymnastics Club since 2014, the National Acro Cup and Aerobics Invitational (NACAI) showcases some of Canada's rising stars. "This event has hosted some of the most dedicated and remarkable athletes in the country," Suzie Owen, 2016 NACAI even codirector, said. "In 2015, we saw local and national pride beaming from all of the competitors who participated. Many of this year's participating gymnasts are current Canadian team members who are sure to put on a great show." Organizers expect more than 500 spectators to fill Glen Abbey Community Centre Arena (1415 Third Line) during the three days. For more information on the event and how to purchase tickets, call the OGC at 905-847-7747. Members of the team include (front row from left) Brooke Davis, Alexandra Kells, Chloe Carenza and Laura Madill; (back row) coach Connor Thompson, Kaitlyn Hapke, Jamie Thomas, Meagan Miller, Vanessa Roscoe, Jenna Gravina and coach Steve Delaney. Absent is Zoe El Helou.|photo submitted ways but we came back together. That first year, we all clicked. And as we had more success more girls joined." Alexandra Kells, a tournament all-star all three years; Brooke Davis, the MVP of their first championship; and Vanessa Roscoe, Jenna Gravina, Zoe El Helou and Kaitlyn Hapke were all members of the under-15 champions in 2014. Jamie Thomas, an all-star at this year's tournament, Chloe Carenza and Meagan Miller joined the team this year while Steve Delaney and Connor Thompson were the team's third set of coaches in three years. The third title may have proved to be the most challenging. The Hurricanes played some tournaments with as few as seven players due to injuries. El Helou was lost to the team for much of the season with a broken leg and concussion and other players missed time throughout the season. "It was a struggle to keep anyone healthy," Delaney said. "Any time you lose one piece, you're not going to be as strong." The Hurricanes adapted, though, often playing out of position as injuries mounted. Halton showed it would be a contender for the Canadian title the previous week when they won the Lakeshore Volleyfest AAU Super Regional in Grand Rapids, Mich. "It helped a lot. We needed that high-level competition to get us ready for nationals," said Delaney. "I think that's where we faltered before provincials and that's my fault. It's a different ball game in the States. You have to be prepared for every point. Coming off a big win there set us up well for nationals." At nationals, the Hurricanes swept their way through western Canada on the opening day, beating teams from Manitoba, Alberta and B.C. without surrendering 20 points in a set. They rolled through Day 2, sweeping all three opponents. On Day 3, they beat the Jr. Wesmen Heat 25-22, 25-20 in the quarter-finals. "What separated us was our serve reception and our serving," said Delaney. "Our team does that better than anyone." After beating Pakmen in the semis, the Hurricanes seemed destined. "It was a little shaky at times (this season). Most years you have one or two injuries, all of a sudden we had 12 or 13," Madill said. "Getting two girls back (Davis and Gravina) right before nationals, we had a good feeling going in." The good feelings continued after the team's victory. With two players leaving a day before the rest of the team, the coaches rented a stretch limo to take them to the airport -- stopping at Dairy Queen on the way -- so the team could celebrate together. Delaney said the perk was worth it, seeing the girls having as much fun off the court as they do on it. "When a team is working hard, but is enjoying what they are doing, it's a good formula for winning," he said. The national championships did not mark the end of the Hurricanes' season. The team's victory in Michigan the previous week qualified Halton for the U.S. nationals, to be held at the end of the month in Orlando, Fla. Blue Devils' League 1 Ontario team still resides in Oakville In the May 5 edition of the Oakville Beaver, information under a photo of the Oakville Blue Devils soccer team receiving trophies for their pair of 2015 championships incorrectly called the team the Burlington Blue Devils. The Beaver regrets the error.