The combine and draft are less than a month away, and as always, there’s a sense of excitement in the air. This year, however, it’s mixed with a sense of unease, as Covid-19 number are beginning to swell worldwide. As has been the case with many things since this pandemic became a part of our current lives, there are many questions around how things will be different this season. We don’t have all the answers, but we’re working to keep the league as safe as possible for everyone involved.
The players in the NBVL are in a demographic at a low risk of hospitalization from the virus, but with the highest rate of infection in Canada. Every interaction made outside of our personal bubbles puts those involved at some amount of risk of exposure to Covid-19. We don’t necessarily have the same capacity to fully isolate a sport cohort, like in the NBA or NHL, but we can certainly hold ourselves to a higher standard than your average sports league.
As a league with a growing public audience, our players are ambassadors for the sport of beach volleyball and role models to all those watching. They’ve already demonstrated their abilities to shoulder that responsibility on the court, but this year there will be more asked of them. They’ll be expected to set a good example off the court as well.
Every Ace from Vancouver leader Irem Eren will be preceded by a mask worn while entering and followed by the same while exiting 6pack Indoor Beach.
Every Kill from Calgary leader Jarron Mueller will come only if he’s confirmed he’s symptom free as he enters at The Beach YYC or the Volleydome.
Every Block from Vancouver leader Chris Howe will be performed during play or in training within the NBVL Vancouver’s sport cohort.
Every Dig from Calgary leader Steph Burnside will be controlled with the same self discipline that she uses to keep 2 meters of physical distance when outside of her personal bubbles or the NBVL Calgary cohort.
As a fan of the NBVL, you can feel comfortable knowing that the volleyballs, team benches, and nets will be cleaned between games, the referees will be wearing masks, and pre/post match handshakes will not be a part of this season. Physical spectators might not be encouraged, but we’ll be working to provide an entertaining broadcast that will be available online for your viewing pleasure.
We sit on the edge of a major decision in our league. We can decide that the virus is too big a risk and call the 2021 season off, or we can choose to become positive examples in Canadian sport by fully committing league wide to keeping sport a safe environment in the midst of a pandemic. AHS and viaSport have set the guidelines to follow in Alberta and BC, and the NBVL will strive to be role models in following those rules in both provinces. The NBVL’s motto is Compete Together, this year that will fit more than ever as the league as a whole competes together against Covid-19.
NBVL Combine sessions are as follows:
NBVL Vancouver (Pacific Times):
Sunday November 15th – at 6Pack Indoor Beach
-Session 1 – 9:00AM-10:00AM
-Session 2 – 10:00AM-11:00AM
-Session 3 – 11:00AM-12:00PM
NBVL Calgary (Mountain Times):
Sunday, November 15th – at the Beach YYC
-Session 1 – 12:00PM-1:00PM
-Session 2 – 1:00PM-2:00PM
Monday, November 16th – at the Volleydome
-Session 3 – 8:30PM-9:30PM
We’ll start of with the untouchables, Natura Solutions is the only team in either league to still be undefeated, and therefore to have clinched the #1 seed going into the playoffs. On top of that, the team has only gone to Overtime once, meaning they’ve only dropped a single match out of the 8 total that they’ve played, and Jared Krause and Grant O’Gorman remain the only unblemished pair in either league. Will they be able to carry their winning ways through to the end?
On the other end of the spectrum, Dunbar Cycles have had a rough go this season. They had high hopes coming in, but with some miscommunications and an inability to finish matches for either gender, they’ve gone through the first 4 weeks with only a single point. Their playoff dreams are over, but they have the opportunity to end their season on a bright note if they can take down Volleyball Stuff this weekend.
The only team in a position to dethrone the Defenders is ACE. Though the women had a rough start, they’ve become contender’s since Megan Nagy returned to join Jaimie Thibeault. On the men’s front Tom Haight and Alex Bader have been solid and given ACE consistency with a 4-1 record on the Men’s court. They’ve led ACE to being the only team in Calgary without a regulation loss, and within a point of the top seed.
The men on CBVA are also 4-1 (with Colton De Man and Jarron Mueller together, they’re 4-0), and will look to put a stamp on who the top men’s pairing is when they battle it out with ACE for the second time this season. The last time they played, ACE took the matchup in overtime despite a dominant performance from De Man and Mueller, and a tight 3 set loss from Leah Pezer and Claire Crossfield on the women’s set (Crossfield and Rhonda Schmuland are the only pair to take down Burnside/Saxton this season). I expect it’s a rematch both teams are looking forward to. Potential for a top 2 playoff seed is on the line.