By: Pedro Casellatto
Even after being forced to face some adversities, the 2023–2024 season was considered very successful for the Centennial Women's Volleyball program in terms of performance. They were able to stay in the top 4 for the majority of the season, make it to the playoffs, and put up a worthy fight against the Niagara Knights in their last game of the season. The Colts finished with a record of 9-9, good enough for sixth place in the division.
With a lot of adjustments throughout the season, the team struggled to keep momentum and get used to playing with each other in situations in which things were not in their control. However, they were still able to pull out an incredible volleyball performance, for example, in the five-set game against the Loyalist Lancers. Through communication and confidence, they were able to bounce back after losing the first two sets and surprise the second-placed team.
In general, the Colts' women's volleyball team was a good example of experience and talent intertwining. The fifth-year setter, Sophia Clement, and the third-year middle blocker, CL Viloria, have led the Colts through many challenging encounters, helping their teammates in many different situations. The rookies, Natalie McLachlan and Ava Hamilton, added to the squad with a lot of energy and enthusiasm, helping the Colts fight against top teams with a lot of power. They were constantly helping each other during the season, making sure everyone was checked in every time they stepped onto the court.
The coaching staff seems to be happy with the results. As previously mentioned by head coach Andrew Malory, when comparing this season to the last one, there were significant improvements. Most of that is due to the good relationship between the players and the coaches, which enabled effective communication to overcome issues.
During this season, they had results that contributed to their resilience. After losing two games on a road trip to Ottawa, they came back home ready for redemption and defeated the second-seated Durham Lords in three sets straight. In front of their home crowd, the Colts did an excellent job, dropping only three games in the entire season. The Colts fans have shown exceptional support for the varsity teams, which is one of the main reasons why this season was successful for many of them.
It was a good stepping stone looking towards next year. We would like to thank the players and all the staff involved in making each game a remarkable event, showing support and care for the Centennial Colts women's volleyball team.