MARCH 4 - CFB Petawawa women's volleyball squad, representing the Ontario region, won the right to call themselves CF's national women's volleyball team after defeating the Prairie region, represented by 17 Wing Winnipeg, 25-19, 25-21, 20-25 and 25-18.

CFB Petawawa players Riel Erickson (3) and Angela Reid (15), representing the Ontario region at the 2002 CF National Women's Volleyball Championship, block a tip by Chris Wiles (4) of the Prairie Region's 17 Wing Winnipeg team. CFB Petawawa won the final in four sets.

Exceptional setting and passing were key to Petawawa's victory. The team's setter was better able to position the ball giving her teammates more control and accuracy on their spikes. They were also better at moving the ball around in their court before passing it to the setter.

"The team played as a cohesive group. They were sharp, they were on and they played an outstanding game. They worked as one unit and there were no individuals," said Sergeant Steve Graham, who is in his second year as coach of the CFB Petawawa women's volleyball team. "We have a whole new team here and we have four pickups. We have had to do a lot of rebuilding and the girls had to work hard."

Last year, CFB Petawawa lost in the finals to the Quebec region's CF Support Unit Ottawa. Although CFB Petawawa did a good job controlling the game, which went five sets, CFSU Ottawa was slightly stronger in their offensive play.

Last year's lessons were not lost on CFB Petawawa. Against the Prairie region, they controlled the tempo of the game and were more disciplined at the net.

The 17 Wing Winnipeg team, undefeated in the tournament round robin, was always within striking distance of their opponents. In the third set, with CFB Petawawa in the lead, the Wing's rookie setter started putting the ball up with more control, which opened the door for some of Winnipeg's hard hitters to score a few points and help win the set.

Warrant Officer Baz Belzile, 17 Wing Winnipeg coach since 1986, said the team's new setter played a good game.

"You could tell she was a little nervous today. It was her first year and she did a great job. I am really proud of her," he said. "We won the third game and came back and did a little better in the fourth, so that was good to see. I think we have to work on our basic skills like bumping and service reception, but that will come."

Leading to the final game, women's volleyball teams representing Canada's five main geographic regions-Pacific, Prairie, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic-played a round robin tournament to find out which teams advanced to the semi-finals. Ontario finished in first place, followed by Quebec and the Prairie region. The Pacific region clinched the fourth and final spot.

Krista Pelechaty, of the Ontario region, was named the final game's most valuable player, while Ontario region's Angela Reid was named the tournament's most valuable player. This year's national women's volleyball championship event was held February 15 to 20 at CFB Borden.

Women's Volleyball 2002 Allstars

Captain Luce Gilbert, Pacific region
Private Christal Kakoske, Ontario region
Captain Angela Reid, Ontario region
Corporal Chris Wiles, Prairie region
Major Tessa Home, Quebec region
Second Lieutenant Margaret Bondy, Pacific region