M’CHIGEENG—The Manitoulin Secondary School (MSS) Mustangs junior girls are the North Shore Secondary School Association (NSSSA) volleyball champions!
“Our junior girls team did very well,” stated MSS sports coordinator Jordan Smith on Thursday. There were four teams in the NSSSA tournament which was hosted at MSS last Wednesday. After defeating Jeunesse-Nord of Blind River in the semi-finals the Mustangs took on Espanola in the finals. “MSS won in four games, winning the final in three games in very close matches,” stated Mr. Smith.
The Mustangs, who are coached by Tina Balfe, capped off an undefeated season in both the regular season and league playoffs. “We had a very young team this year, with only three returning players from last year and seven Grade 9 players. Without much prior experience to draw upon, the girls did amazingly well as a young team, going undefeated in all league play among the North Shore teams and winning the NSSSA championship (last Wednesday).”
“Even more impressive was rising to the challenge at the Northern Ontario Secondary School Association (NOSSA) championship on Friday, only losing to the winning team, Horizon, in all the matches throughout the day,” said Ms. Balfe. The Mustangs beat Franco Cite and White Pines in their matches. “The girls took silver at NOSSA. Horizon had been undefeated in league play all year among the Sudbury schools so the girls did very well, losing some sets 25-17 and 25-19 against the top ranked team in the North.”
The Mustangs players include Mya Balfe, Prestlynn Biedermann, Sadie Bridgeman, Ava Corbiere, Aspen Debassige, Addy Gray, Jordyn Holmes, Merissa McQuarrie, Alexis McVey, Harmony Panamick-Shawana and Emery Watson.
The Mustangs senior girls’ team took part in the NSSSA championship held at Espanola High School last Wednesday.
“Our girl’s team had a great day, they won the semi-final against Jeunesse Nord,” said Mr. Smith. “Then they lost in the best three of five finals, losing in the fifth game 20-18. All the games were super close.”
