For Britannia Elementary’s Grade 7 girls’ volleyball team, losing isn’t an option. At least it wasn’t in the fall of 2024 when they played all season without a single defeat. The team went on to win the city championships on December 12 in a close game against Kitchener Elementary, winning two of three sets. But the real surprise: this was the first year that Britannia has had a girls volleyball team in more than 20 years.

The team’s love of the sport began last school year in their regularly scheduled P.E. class. Their teacher, Doug Radies taught a unit of volleyball and introduced the class to a few foundational skills. Victoria, one student in the class was encouraged to play volleyball by her mother who had also played the game in her youth. “I just knew it was a sport I always wanted to play,” says Victoria. Her enthusiasm for the game caught fire. Soon, she had turned a whole group of her friends onto the sport.

Led by their teacher and coach Justin Borsato, the team began playing before school, during their lunch hour and after school. Borsato even set up some exhibition games with the Vancouver Police Department and West Point Grey Academy (private school city champions).  

Exhibition game with VPD

“I haven’t eaten lunch in months,” he laughs. By putting in the work, the girls started to get good, fast. Soon, word of the team’s love of volleyball spread. Ian Hocking, a parent with previous experience playing high-level volleyball volunteered to help coach twice a week.

“We missed the tournament last school year because we didn’t have a team. The girls didn’t have an interest in it before the season had already started,” says Borsato. When the fall 2024 season began, they were ready. An impressive undefeated season led to a nail-biter of a final when the girls won their first set, then lost their second.

“They were in tears. They had never faced defeat before,” says Borsato. “We were kind of thinking, maybe it would be good for them to face a little adversity.” But defeat wasn’t in the cards for them that day. The Grade 7 girls volleyball team won their final set and finished the citywide tournament as champions.   

“It was such an amazing moment,” says Victoria. “We realized all that work finally paid off.” Teammate Poppy echoed similar feelings and was proud to represent her community. “I was really proud because I was representing my whole school and I felt like I was also representing East Van.”

Sports at Britannia unites the East Van community and keeps students connected to pro-social outlets. According to Borsato, success in volleyball has led to success in other areas. Students see firsthand the impact that practice has on their performance. Once they grasp this concept, it translates to success in literacy and numeracy and other areas of their learning and development.

Before they set off for secondary school next year, the players plan to pay it forward. The Grade 7 girls run their own volleyball clinics for younger students, passing on the skills that were taught and developing their own leadership skills along the way.

Congratulations on big wins – on and off the court – to the 2024 Britannia Girls Volleyball Team!