Both indoors and in the sand, Erin Mutch served up sweet success this summer.
The Oak Bay athlete scored a space on the roster for the U15 regional indoor volleyball team that finished second at the B.C. Regional tournament in July.
Then she added a little “relaxing” at the beach to her summer agenda, pairing with West Shore volleyball player Hannah May for a swing through the beach volleyball circuit.
“She had an excellent summer,” said beach coach Jordan Church. “They got better every single time they played, which is the goal with partners.”
Mutch and May also finished second at the U15 Island Championships; seventh at the U15 B.C. Championships and 10th in U16 Western National Championships (playing against girls a year older).
“At first it was a bit of a challenge transitioning but in the end it was a lot of fun,” Mutch said of her first foray into the sand.
“I do enjoy indoor more as more of a competitive thing, but beach was a lot more relaxed and fun.”
The teen said it took her most of the season to get accustomed to playing in the sand, and having only two players to cover the court. Her coach figures Mutch more than made up for it in energy.
“She’s a sparkplug. She brings so much energy whether it’s on the court or on the beach. In volleyball the team that has the most energy wins 99 per cent of the time and she brings that energy,” Church said.
“She’s very aggressive and won’t just let plays die… and she doesn’t give anything to the other team.”
A regular on the court with the Victoria Volleyball Association and Oak Bay High teams, her main objective this indoor volleyball season is to compete with the provincial U16 indoor team.
The entire experience was fun, and with many highlights, the teen said.
“Just the satisfaction of getting better as a player and a team and competing against the better teams at Nationals,” she said. “[Plus] getting sand everywhere and having to walk on towels until showered.”
cvanreeuwyk
@oakbaynews.com