Taking the crown
Kavik beat two time defending champs to claim volleyball title
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
RANKIN INLET/NUNAVUT
Rankin Inlet's Kavik men's team came out on top in a rematch of the previous year's final to claim the 2015 men's crown at the 15th annual Laura Gauthier Memorial (LGM) volleyball tournament in Rankin this past month.
Amy Siusangnark of Team Fusion makes the save on a Gjoa Haven serve as Tracey Lindell (7) follows the action during gold medal play in the female division of the Laura Gauthier Memorial volleyball tournament in Rankin Inlet. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo |
Repulse Bay (Naujaat), a traditional Kivalliq powerhouse on the volleyball court, defeated Kavik in the 2014 final to claim its second LGM men's title in a row.
On the women's side of the ledger, a scrappy young team from Gjoa Haven was too much to handle for the Rankin Fusion, as Gjoa Haven ousted the defending champs to claim the female LGM title.
Kavik's official roster was comprised of Tristen Dias, Jonah Nakoolak, Nuvak Nakoolak, Kimbo Okpataujak, Gary Noolook, Simeon Noolook, Kulula Napayok, Jimmy Naulalik and Simon Kritaqliluk.
Naujaat's official roster was made up of Dino Mablik, Stephen Angotialuk, Kalu Tuktudjuk, Simon Lee Kopak, Ramsey Akkuardjuk, Dino Milortok, Ray Milortok and Joshua Bruce.
Dias said it's always a challenge to go up against Naujaat.
He said everyone knows the Naujaat team is strong and they always come to play.
"We managed to keep the same team together we had this past year and that helped us a lot," said Dias.
"Those guys play a lot of volleyball together in Repulse and we were really looking forward to a rematch with them.
"Maybe it was losing to them in 2014, I don't know, but we played better this year and we made less mistakes."
Dias said Kavik has rounded into a good all-around team.
He said his team plays together on the court and everyone gets along well.
"We have good defence, good coverage and pretty good offence, too.
"You can't let up for a minute against a team like Repulse.
"Nuvak (Noolook) and I are our main strikers, and I thought we did better at placing the ball this year.
"A couple of teams took us to the third set in the round robin, but we weren't really playing our best.
"We seemed to get better as the tournament went along and we really came together in the final against Repulse.
