Iqaluit, Sanikiluaq teams earn volleyball gold

Volleyball teams from across Nunavut converged in Iqaluit to compete in the territorials this past weekend.

Gold-medal-winning Sanikiluaq players Andrew Qavvik, left, Nick Cookie, Leland Takatak and Harley Kowcharlie display their territorial championship banner Sunday after beating Pangnirtung at Iqaluit’s Inuksuk High School. (Photo by Daron Letts)

Close to 130 teen athletes representing 17 teams from eight communities took part in Volleyball Nunavut’s three-day competition.

“It has been a good experience to learn and compete against other communities,” said Divine Egeni, who played for the bronze-winning Iqaluit boys team.

Egeni scored the game-winning point by leaping to block a Gjoa Haven spike in front of packed bleachers at Inuksuk High School on Sunday.

Egeni’s vertical jump ability was officially recorded as the highest of all the tournament’s players during a skills camp organized by nine visiting varsity players from the University of British Columbia Okanagan’s team, the Heat, on Friday.

It is the third year the university’s athletes have officiated at the year-end tournament.

“The players are a lot more competitive this year compared to last,” said Heat player Natalie Funk. “We’ve seen a lot of improvement.”

Gold-winning Iqaluit players Anita Ellsworth, back row from left, Geena Veevee and Alaasua Akavak pose with their championship banner, held by coach Bev Netusil at Inuksuk High School on Sunday. (Photo by Daron Letts)

In the boys gold medal game, Sanikiluaq beat Pangnirtung 25-22.

“It was a tough game,” said Sanikiluaq’s Devon Kowcharlie. “We knew what they were trying to do and we covered the spots they were trying to get the ball to.”

Kowcharlie has a shot of playing at the university level in a few years, said Heat player Zack van Geel, who connected the young player with coaching staff in Kelowna, B.C.

On the girls side, Rankin Inlet beat Iqaluit’s first team to earn bronze on Saturday, while Iqaluit’s second team beat Gjoa Haven 27-25 in the gold medal match on Sunday.

“It was very exciting and very emotional,” said Gjoa Haven player Scarlett Putuguq.

Putuguq was a leader on the court, keeping morale high by heading the team’s made-up chant of “Ayyouu,” which all the players intoned after big plays for either team.

“They cheer for everything and everyone,” said Jillian Billingham, Volleyball Nunavut president. “They have great sportsmanship.”

Other teams to compete included Kimmirut, Coral Harbour and Arviat.