1969 – 1970 B.R.H.S
Senior Girls Volleyball Team
Under the tutelage of Coach Audrey Sturk, the 1969 BRHS Senior Girls Volleyball Team began its season in October by playing Acadia University in two exhibition matches. In both games the Bridgetown girls won in five sets. The girls went on to League play, facing 9 opponents and winning 6 of the 9 matches. In a playoff against Clare to determine who would advance to the Headmasters Semi-Final, Bridgetown lost out 15-17, 15-9, 10-15. Though now out of Provincial contention, the girls kept training.
Photo above – 1969 B.R.H.S. Senior Girls Volleyball Team. Back Row L/R: Audrey Sturk (coach), Audrey Chute, Julie Ann Bent, Margaret Ann Messinger, Susan Walker. Front Row L/R: Dianne Bent, Valerie Jodrey, Louise Reese, Gail Reese, Janet Hudson. Missing from photo: Ray Gillis, manager
In March of 1969, the BRHS Girls won the Maritime Junior title, in a tournament played at King’s College, Halifax. They defeated Antigonish, and Memorial University of NFLD. This made them eligible to compete in the Canadian Junior Volleyball Tournament in Montreal. Here they played teams from Toronto, Montréal, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Although not victorious, they gained valuable experience in technique and game strategy, while making friends with students and players from across Canada.
In defeating two University Teams and winning an Atlantic Title, the girls from B.R.H.S. had an excellent season.
With five players returning from the 1969 team, the 1970 BRHS Senior Girls Volleyball team took to the court early in the year, under new coach, Aubrey Price. Throughout the season, the girls played twenty- one matches, winning twenty. In doing so they won Championships at Congress and Regionals, captured the Nova Scotia High School Championship and then for a second consecutive year, they took the Nova Scotia Junior Women’s Provincial Title.
Once again, the BRHS girls entered the National Junior tournament, this time in Calgary. As in the previous year, they played highly skilled teams from across Canada. Coach Aubrey Price commented, “It was the first time the girls had seen the ‘pop set’ or short set.”
Both coaches speak of the dedication of the athletes, their very strong serving skills and their ability to exploit the weaknesses of opposing teams. It was a remarkable two years under the coaching and guidance of Audrey Sturk and Aubrey Price. For a little school in the Annapolis Valley to play at the National level speaks for itself and it was another example of small town desire and big time spirit that has propelled BRHS teams through the decades.
Back Row L/R: Jenny Phelan (manager), Joan Annand, Mary Allen, Audrey Chute, Sherry Smith, Janet Hudson, Aubrey Price (coach) . Front Row L/R: Nancy Lowe, Dianne Bent, Louise Reece, Gail Reece.