Photo: Les Cyclones, the triumphant volleyball team from Grande-Rivière High School, adorned with their hard-earned silver medals at the Montreal Youth Cup. (TF) Photo courtesy of the Grande-Rivière High School’s Volleyball Team

In a remarkable display of skill and teamwork, the female volleyball team of Grande-Rivière High School, affectionately known as “Les Cyclones”, clinched the silver medal in the U16 Division 1 category at the Montreal Youth Cup. This prestigious tournament, which took place onJanuary 6 and 7, saw Les Cyclones showcasing their prowess against some of the best teams in the province.

The team’s journey to the Montreal Youth Cup has been marked by consistent high-level performance and dedication. Coach Jason Brennan, who has led the team for four years, shared his insights into their preparation: “The team itself has always been a high-level team and has always been amongst the best teams in the area at the school volleyball level.” This long-term commitment to excellence set the stage for their success at the Cup.

A pivotal moment in the tournament, highlighting Les Cyclones’ resilience, was their advancement to the semifinals, emerging as one of the top four teams from a competitive pool of 24. Reflecting on this significant milestone, Coach Brennan remarked, “We found ourselves among the elite, facing off against some of the province’s top Sport Etude programs and premierclub teams in Quebec. Our journey led us to a challenging match against Ontario’s 10th ranked club team. Pushing them to a decisive third set in the gold medal game was a defining and extraordinary moment for our team.”

This achievement is more than just a medal; it’s a milestone in the team’s journey toward the regional championships. Coach Brennan emphasized the impact of this accomplishment: “It’s all part of a process in getting the girls ready for our regional championships. But it helped in reinforcing the fact that we’re on the right track.”

The team’s success is attributed to their hard work and focused training regime. “The girls work hard and aim to be the best they can be. When they come to practice, they come with goals of getting better every time, and they train with intent and purpose,” said Coach Brennan.Les Cyclones’ participation in external tournaments is made possible through the support of generous sponsors and annual fundraising efforts. Their next challenge awaits in a tournament in Boston in March 2024.

With notes from Mary Baskin, Marie-Eve Turpin and Lily Ryan