Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, August 1, 2007

RANKIN INLET - Toota Tatty and Holly Mercer of Rankin Inlet successfully defended their senior womens Territorial Beach Volleyball Championship crown in Yellowknife this past month.

The win marked the third time the duo has claimed the championship.

Tatty and Mercer struck gold in 2004 before missing the 2005 event when both were busy having a baby.

The two picked up where they left off by capturing both the 2006 and 2007 titles since their return.

Mercer said there were a lot of new faces at this year's event.

She said their years of experience playing together make her and Tatty a tough team to beat.

"We also both have the same attitude and look at the game the same way," said Mercer.

"When we play indoors I'm a setter and Toota's a hitter, but, on the beach, you have to be able play a more all-around game and adjust to the play as it comes.

"We always go to a tournament with only one thought in mind - we just don't want to finish last."

Rankin duos put in a solid showing this year.

In addition to Mercer and Tatty's gold, the junior duo of Victoria Kakuktinniq and Lori Tagoona earned silver, while the senior mens pair of Sam Ayaruak and Kimbo Okpatauyak claimed bronze.

Shirley Aliyak and Janice Rempel earned a fifth-place finish in the senior womens division.

Tatty said while she missed seeing some familiar faces at this year's event, it was fun to play teams she and Mercer had never faced before.

She said even though they're undefeated in their last three trips to the championship, she doesn't feel the other teams are gunning for them.

"To be honest, the new players probably don't know the results of the previous years," said Tatty.

"With indoor volleyball, where you have six players, you see many of the same players from year to year and you know which teams are stronger or weaker.

"But with only two players, it's like playing a totally different team even if just one can't make it.

"That's why it's harder to keep track of who's who in beach volleyball and that, probably, works to our advantage."