Canadian National Champions!!

Coming home from Scandinavia was bitter sweet.  Liz and I were disappointed that we would be missing the next stop on the FIVB World Tour in The Hague, Netherlands.  We were playing great, being successful, and competitive against really strong teams, and we felt that we had a really good shot at qualifying in The Hague.  Unfortunately the Canadian National Championships were at the same as The Hague and we were forced to come home to fulfill our National team carding agreement and play in the Canadian National Championships.  We made the most of it, and it was nice to be home after being on the road for 6 weeks.

Liz and I with the Canadian National
Championship plaque!

Coming home for Nationals worked in our favour; after three long and hot days we were crowned the new Canadian National Champions!  The first day and a half was pool play, we went undefeated in pool play against the teams of Frawley/Pothaar, Mancini/Paulsen, and Mondor/Savoi.  After pool play we started the single elimination playoff round, defeating the teams Thomas/ Vlcek and Frawley/Pothaar again to make it to the semi's.  In our semi final game we matched up against Mondor/ Savoi again, defeating them 2-0 (21-18, 21-16), giving us a spot in the final!  For the final we were set to play against Broder/ Cordonier, a good team we hadn't played since early June.  We won the first set 21-16.  In the second set we were feeling the effects of the heat, and got down a couple points and couldn't work our way back, we lost 17-21.  In the 3rd and final set, we were both running on adrenaline.  Tied at 9-9, Liz and I made some key plays on defense that put as ahead.  From there we kept the lead, and won 15-10, and claiming the 2010 Canadian National Championships!!  What a feeling!  Liz and I were ecstatic to say the least!  The weather was great the whole weekend, and a crowd had formed in the stands and around the court, it was exhilarating to win in front of all our the fans, our loyal friends and family!  Thank you to everyone who came out.