Leaside volleyballers nab bronze in Stratford

Lightning struck hard in Stratford.

The Leaside Lightning under-12 girls volleyball team took home bronze medals after travelling to Stratford for their first tournament.

The Feb. 13 eight-team battle saw the girls play a three-game round robin, where they won a total of four out of six sets, giving them a favourable matchup for the quarterfinals.

In the quarterfinals, they took down host Stratford in straight sets (25–17, 25–16), landing them in the semis.

There, they fell to eventual tournament winners Unity Markham in straight sets (17–25, 17–25), putting them in the bronze medal match against the Predators from Kitchener-Waterloo.

The match saw the girls battle hard, owning the first set 25–14, before losing a close second set 23–25. A third and deciding set came down to the wire as the Lightning prevailed with a razor-thin 15–12 win.

Coach Bart Arsenault said the team is now preparing for the Ontario Championships, taking place in April. The team is also coached by Lauren Sokolowski.

Team members are Frankie Dioso-Lopez, April Picketts, Anna Robertson, Sarah Joo, Lauren Hewat, Maria-Elisa Bizzotto, Courtney Anderson, Eve Morrison, Tatum Finlason, Danielle Neichenbauer, Taylor Healing and Sasha Mildenberger.