233 athletes between the ages of 12 and 18 tried out at Providence this weekend with the goal of being awarded a place on one of the Pilots club volleyball program's 14 teams. In the end, 170 were chosen.

“I am incredibly humbled by how many athletes want to play for our club,” says Kyle Guenther, head coach of the Providence Pilots women’s varsity volleyball team and Junior Pilots Coordinator. “To see it grow every year and have an increasing number of kids come to our tryouts gives me so much joy!”

These 14 teams will be representing the school from the 12U to 18U, which is a record for the school.

Each year Junior Pilots teams contend for championships at provincial and national levels, and every summer a handful of graduating athletes enrol at Providence University College and progress into the varsity ranks.

“It means we have put a good product together and that word is spreading that Providence is a great place to play club volleyball,” Guenther explains. “I give so much credit to our coaches for giving these athletes a great experience each year. They work so hard to develop these young athletes in the sport and challenge them on and off the court, which makes for a great experience altogether.”

The 2018 club volleyball season will begin early in the New Year and conclude with the national championship in May. The Junior Pilots will be represented at the Edmonton tournament by the 15U, 16U, 17U and 18U teams.