Stage set for North Peace Grizzlies to battle alumni on volleyball court

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — With volleyball zone playoffs and the provincial championships pending, it’s time for the senior teams at North Peace Secondary School (NPSS) to dig into the past – and play themselves.

The school is slated to host its third annual Senior Showcase next week, featuring separate matches between the senior boys’ and girls’ squads against some of the finest alumni who donned a Grizzlies jersey.

NPSS senior girls’ coach, Alex Olsen (neé Bacso), says it will also feature a silent auction to raise funds for the aforementioned events, including zone playoffs, which will be hosted in Fort St. John in 2025 in November.

“It takes weeks of preparation,” said Olsen. “It takes about a month to make sure we get silent auction items and sponsorships and alumni to play against the current team.”

Former players on the women’s side will include Kehly MacDuff, who played at NPSS in the mid-2000s. She earned rookie of the year honours at NPSS, and went on to play for Northwestern Polytechnic in Grande Prairie and University of Arkansas at Little Rock for the Little Rock Trojans in the United States.

Also included on the alumni squad will be Daelyn Jeffers, who went on to play at Vancouver’s Douglas College and Victoria’s Camosun College.

As for the men, 2011 AAA volleyball all-star Tristan Burridge will suit up alongside 2005 all-star Devon McLeod. Both went on to play for Grande Prairie’s Northwestern Polytechnic.

Members of the current squads spoke to Energeticcity.ca about the potential games on November 5th. 

Kenzie Sihlis, a grade 12 student, is excited about the matchup against the former Grizzlies who laid the foundation for her current squad to shine.

“There are a lot of great athletes on the alumni team,” said Sihlis. “It is tough competition, great games and familiar faces. It is lots of fun.”

While she says playing post-secondary is “a dream of hers,” she is unsure of the next stop in her volleyball career.

As for the boys, Elijah Lind described the event as having an “electric atmosphere.”

“The alumni game here is really fun,” said Lind. “I was able to participate in it last year as I was in grade 11. Everybody’s excited to come out and see everyone play.”

Lind feels that post-secondary volleyball would be “a great opportunity.”

Senior boys’ coach Scott Hyde feels the showcase is a “long-term investment” to get younger students interested in volleyball at a local level.

“Volleyball has been bigger at times and not so big at other times,” said Hyde. “[If kids] come and watch, and if they’re impressed with what they see on the court, they want to be a part of that and play similar games. 

“It is good getting a lot of people interested in volleyball and making sure the interest is there in future years.”

The NPSS seniors volleyball showcase goes down on Wednesday, November 5th at NPSS at 9304 86th Street in Fort St. John.

Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the event. The senior girls’ matchup starts at 6 p.m., the senior boys’ game will take place starting at 7:15 p.m.