U16 BVC Storm repping the Saskatchewan flag at Nationals. (U16 BVC Storm/Facebook)

By Austin Mattes

Battlefords Volleyball Club

BVC wraps up season with good showing at Nationals

May 22, 2025 | 3:44 PM

The U16 BVC Storm wrapped up their season at the Volleyball Canada Youth Nationals this week in Edmonton, finishing 45th overall out of 262 teams in the U16 women’s division. The three-day tournament brought the best team from around the country to compete, and the Storm didn’t disappoint, showcasing their talent, determination, and team spirit.

Day 1: Pool Play

The Storm kicked off their Nationals journey in dominant fashion, winning their first two matches and earning a first-place finish in their opening pool.

In their morning opener on Monday, BVC faced the YYC Eagles Blue (ranked 16th in Alberta) in a hard fought two-set win. The Storm edged a nail-biting first set 32-30 before cruising to a 25-10 finish in the second.

Next up was Nova Scotia’s 3rd-ranked Bedford Blizzard, where the Storm won the match in two straight sets 25-17 and 25-21.

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The final pool play match came against the Junior Bisons, Manitoba’s 7th-ranked team. BVC took the first set 25-20, but the Bisons fought back to take the next two sets, handing BVC its first loss of the day. Still, the Storm’s strong showing secured 1st place in their pool with a 2-1 record.

Day 2: Power Pool

For Day 2, the Strom were re-pooled and started off with an early morning clash against the Western Wave (Manitoba 6th). It was a back-and-forth game but despite taking the second set 25-16, the Storm ultimately dropped the match, losing the first and third sets 23-25 and 12-15.

They bounced back in their second game though against Saskatchewan’s 6th-ranked team, The Grizz, winning a thrilling two-set match 25-23, 26-24.

Then the final match of the day came against Defensa 16 Evan, Ontario’s 10th-ranked team. The Storm battled throughout, but in the end fell short, losing 16-25 and 19-25.

Their 1-2 Day 2 record placed them 3rd in the Power Pool, earning them a promotion to Tier 6, a jump from their initial Tier 7 placement.

Day 3: Quarterfinals

In their Tier 6 quarterfinal match, BVC faced off against the Lions Volleyball Club (Alberta 12th). Despite their best efforts, the Storm couldn’t quite find their rhythm, losing in two sets 21-25 and 16-25.

Still, the team left the tournament with a final national ranking of 45th out of 262 U16 teams, a big jump from their 66th national ranking last year.

More than Wins and Losses

Even with the great improvement of the team, for the coaches and players, the journey went far beyond the scoresheet. Storm coach, Kim Voegeli said the reason for the success came down to one thing.

“It really boils down to team culture, our whole year has been filled with hard work and growth. We created some unforgettable moments both on and off the court. The girls showed heart and determination and what it truly means to be a team,” she said.

Looking back, Voegeli also reflected on the season as a whole and gave credit to the girls on the team, not only for their play on the court but for how they carried themselves.

“We had a lot of laughs, a lot of sweat. They played with grit and grace, and always with good sportsmanship. That’s what makes me the proudest, just watching them grow as athletes and as leaders and as teammates and as humans,” Voegeli said.

Now with the season officially at a close, Voegeli extended thanks to everyone involved in the organization for their contributions.

“The BVC has come a long way, and we couldn’t do it without parents, grandparents, fans, and all the volunteers that make it possible, it’s been incredible, and I am proud to be a part of this club,” she said.

Apart from the BVC Storm, the BVC 14U Impact were also at Nationals a couple weeks ago and had an outstanding performance. They walked away with a 10th place finish and got 2nd place in Tier Two, giving them an impressive silver medal.

14U BVC Impact with their silver medals at Nationals. (Battlefords Volleyball Club/Facebook)

The club volleyball season will now be on a hiatus till tryouts take place following the high school volleyball season in the fall.

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Austin.mattes@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @AustinMattes