‘It’s unfair’: New Brunswick volleyball champs denied a top spot in national championship

The 15UG Cyclones are pictured in an undated image. (Source: Alex Le)

A volleyball team in New Brunswick is asking for an opportunity to play against the best teams in the country.

The 15UG Cyclones represent the Greater Moncton Area in New Brunswick. They’ve gone undefeated since the season started in September, never losing a game – or even a set – on their way to winning the provincial championship.

Last year they were the U14 national champions but this year the best they can hope for is a tier three finish in 17th place because of how the tournament is seeded by Volleyball Canada.

“Just New Brunswick as a whole, there was only a maximum amount of points that you could accumulate,” said Amy Clinch, the executive director of Club Cyclones Volleyball. Amy said it wasn’t enough to compete against the top teams in the country.

The Cyclones filed an appeal that was denied by Volleyball Canada which sent a letter explaining the seeding system.

“What they’re not seeing is their rules and policies are very unfair,” Amy said. “They’re not just. It doesn’t make sense that provincial champions for New Brunswick don’t get to compete like the rest of the country does.”

Volleyball Canada said its decision was data-driven in its response and “removes subjectivity from the process”. It said final placement from preceding nationals, i.e. 2024, is not calculated in the current seeding procedure. Amy said she would like to see the data.

“The only response that we have gotten so far is they take historical data of how provinces succeed at a previous nationals going back six to 10 years,” said John Clinch, head coach of the undefeated 15U Cyclones team. He said the system prevents New Brunswick from ranking in the higher tiers.

“We know we have a very talented team,” John said. “We just wanted the chance to compete at the tier one and tier two level.”

Volleyball Canada has used the seeding system for a long time, but John said it isn’t right.

“It’s unfair to New Brunswick,” he said.

The Cyclones were dominant in their national tournament last year, winning every set, but they won’t have a chance to defend their title at 15U.

“They’ve made it clear that they don’t take that into consideration,” Amy said.

Even though the girls on the team were crushed by the news, Amy said they’re fighting for something bigger now. She said they will set an example and try to make changes for New Brunswick volleyball in the future.

John said the response is big on social media and there are clubs in other provinces who think the system is problematic. “At least the provincial champions should get the opportunity to play in that top 32.”

John said the team knows it may not be their time but they are focusing their attention on creating change.

Amy said every province and territory should be represented at the top tier.

“That’s why we call it a national, right?”

Volleyball Canada said there are 312 teams participating in this age group from across the country, and said the Cyclones are “still ranked well ahead of the majority of the teams in this category.”

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