Ontario Summer Games a learning experience for local volleyballer

Allison Hyatt recently discovered the Ontario Summer Games aren’t about winning the gold, they’re about what you learn along the way.
Hyatt, 15, of Mine Centre was a member of the regional girls’ volleyball team that competed at the Games held Aug. 11-13 in Durham Region, where they finished fifth out of the six squads.
The Fort High student noted the team only featured four returning players so that may have had an effect on the way they played.
“We could have done way better,” she admitted. “Some people were just off their games–sometimes our passes weren’t on. It could have been nerves, who knows?” she added.
Hyatt also noted the team had only practised for about a month before they headed down to the Games to face ones that practice together throughout the year.
“We did good against our competition. Our scores against some of the first-place teams were like 24-26 and 19-25,” she enthused.
“It was fun,” added Hyatt about her first trip to the Ontario Summer Games. “Everyone on our team liked each other–that helped us out on the court.”
Hyatt has been playing volleyball since grade six but only decided to try out for the regional team when her volleyball coach suggested it last year.
She cracked last year’s squad (which didn’t compete at the Ontario Summer Games since they’re only held every two years) and made it again this year.
“The first tryouts are more like a developmental camp,” she noted. “The coaches for the OSG team are there and they hand pick the players they want to try out in Thunder Bay.”
Hyatt noted the coaches were a big part to their success as a team.
“Our coaches were good, they helped everyone individually with their skills,” she said. “They know so much and that helped us out a lot.
“Last year we weren’t running any plays because we didn’t learn any [but] this year we actually learned plays and we used them in the games,” she enthused.
“I liked the coaches last year. But this year, we went out more as a team which helped out a lot, especially on the court.”