Even though a provincial championship wasn’t in the cards this year, the R.D. Parker Collegiate junior volleyball teams still managed to produce some top tier competitors for the month of October.
According to each team’s respective coaching staff, Grade 10 students Hayley Sylvester and Jasraj Kullar are the perfect fit for this title based on their positive attitude, leadership skills, and dedication to improving themselves on and off the court.
To junior girls' volleyball coach Monica Munro, figuring out which athlete to nominate for the month of October took no time at all.
“It was a pretty easy decision. Hayley exhibits leadership qualities on and off the court and her drive and passion for the sport of volleyball is seen in season and off season,” said Munro. “She’s been one of the captains on our team for the season and she’s doing an excellent job in that role.”
While the junior boys' volleyball coach wasn’t available for comment, RDPC phys. ed. instructor Jeff Paradis spoke on behalf of Kullar’s qualities as a positive role model for his fellow students.
“Probably one of the most coachable athletes I think you’ll ever have,” said Paradis. “His academics are also in place. He’s the definition of a ‘student athlete.’”
As for the Sylvester and Kullar, they’re just happy that their respective teams have been able to gel so effectively throughout the year, leading to a pair of zones championships and a trip to Winnipeg for provincials this past weekend.
Kullar credits much of his own success to the fact that he’s grown a full two inches since last season, which has substantially improved his blocking game.
Sylvester said she’s become a better hitter and believes that her team really came together overall.
Even though both junior volleyball teams came up short at this year’s provincials, Sylvester and Kullar said they are not done with high school athletics.
Sylvester wants to apply her talents to the junior girls' basketball team, while Kullar has set his sights on competing in track and field and maybe even badminton.
Regardless of what they do going forward, hopefully this pair can maintain that same delicate balance that’s led them to such success in the first half of the academic year.
