For the second year in a row, all four volleyball teams at Gabrielle-Roy in Île-des-Chênes have struck paydirt. The Junior Varsity Boys, Junior Varsity Girls, Varsity Boys, and Varsity Boys each excelled during the regular season and qualified to compete in their respective provincial championships.
“As the tournaments approached, all four of the Les Roys volleyball teams of Collège régional Gabrielle-Roy teams were ranked in the provincial top ten of the MHSAA,” says Michel Lavergne, coach of the Varsity Boys and JV girls squads. “They all came back with an impressive haul of medals.”
The JV Boys came out on top, capturing first place and gold medals. The JV Girls and Varsity Boys both fought their way to the championship game, finishing in second position. The Varsity Girls managed to take bronze.
In recent years, coaches Daniel Lother, Roger Vermette, Michel Lavergne, and Roger Turenne—all teachers at the school—have helped elevate the volleyball program to new heights.
“We should also note the support of our alumni, Dérrick Sabourin, Nicoles Carter, and Yvan Boisjoli, who also helped coach our teams to success,” adds Lavergne. “Rachelle Muller and Todd Neumann were also an integral part of the coaching staff.”
Several players stood out because of their performances at the championships and were named to the provincial all-star teams, including Kalen Nordick and Yannick Dupuis of the Varsity Boys, Makayla Wiebe of the Varsity Girls, Bethany Carter and Katrine Ferguson of the JV Girls, and Joshua Bartlett and Benjamin Doan of the JV Boys.
Additionally, Maxime Vermette was named the most valuable player in the Varsity Girls tournament.
“In addition, four of our players have been selected to the grad all-star squad,” says Lavergne. “They are Nathan Fillion (power), Yannick Dupuis (setter), Cabrel Sorin (power), and Kalen Nordick (middle). They will all be recognized on Saturday, December 11 during the Manitoba Volleyball Association Grad All-Star Banquet.”
Moreover, Lavergne himself is to be awarded the title of AA Coach of the Year by the Manitoba Volleyball Association.
