Superior North Volleyball Club was proudly represented on the provincial stage this summer, with three SNVC athletes and one coach earning opportunities within the Team Ontario pathway.
Devina Amisheva and Kayley Cianfagna were selected to participate in the Team Ontario Regional Program (TORP), while Lily Gascon was selected to Team Ontario White. SNVC coach Julia Curtis was also chosen to join the Team Ontario Regional Program coaching staff.
The selections are a significant accomplishment for the three athletes and Curtis, who earned their places through Team Ontario’s competitive identification and application process.
Team Ontario’s goal is to identify and develop elite athletes with the potential to compete with provincial and national teams. Its broader mission is to develop athletes and coaches who can ultimately represent Canada internationally and reach the Olympic podium, while establishing high-performance best practices throughout the Ontario Volleyball Association community.
Amisheva and Cianfagna Selected to Regional Program
Amisheva, an outside hitter, and Cianfagna, a middle blocker, were both members of SNVC’s 16U Surge High Performance team this past season, coached by Morgan Davis, Matthew Clark and Steve Shonosky.
The Team Ontario Regional Program brings together selected athletes from across Ontario and introduces them to a high-performance training environment. Athletes receive instruction from regional and provincial mentor coaches, train alongside players from across the province, and experience a camp format similar to Team Ontario’s provincial programs.
This year’s Regional Training Camp took place July 26–30 at the University of Guelph before athletes travelled to Waterloo to compete at the 2026 Ontario Summer Games from July 31 to August 2.
For Amisheva, the experience provided both an opportunity to compete at a higher level and a glimpse of where the sport could take her.
“TORP was such an amazing experience, and I’m so grateful I got to be a part of it,” said Amisheva. “I learned so much throughout the week from the coaches and the athletes around me, and I feel like I grew a lot as a player and as a person.”
Competing at the Ontario Summer Games was a highlight she said she will not soon forget.
“It made me even more excited and motivated to keep working toward my goals. I’m really thankful for the opportunity and for everyone who helped make it such a memorable week.”
Cianfagna also described the week as an incredible learning experience, both on and off the court.
“I learned so much over the past week, both in class and on the court,” said Cianfagna. “There were so many different activities that I got to take part in, and during that time I got the chance to meet so many people who made my experience much more memorable.”
For Cianfagna, one of the highlights was seeing the development of the athletes around her as they trained and competed together.
“Watching my teammates grow and compete together was an unforgettable experience.”
Curtis Returns to Team Ontario in a New Role
SNVC was also represented on the coaching side of the Regional Program, with Julia Curtis selected as a TORP coach for the second consecutive year.
Curtis coached SNVC’s 16U Strikes competitive team this past season and has a long connection to the Team Ontario pathway. Her selection as a coach marked a full-circle moment after previously participating in Team Ontario as an athlete.
“TORP this year was such an amazing experience,” said Curtis. “I was able to grow as a coach both on and off the court, learning more about different coaching styles, but also seeing all my hard work pay off in the athletes’ progression, which was the biggest win of them all.”
Like Amisheva and Cianfagna, Curtis also had the opportunity to experience the Ontario Summer Games.
“Being able to experience the Ontario Summer Games was a surreal experience I won’t forget. I’m so thankful to have been given the opportunity to coach at this level, and I cannot wait for what is next.”
Her selection also highlights an important part of the Team Ontario pathway: developing coaches alongside athletes and giving them opportunities to learn, collaborate and bring high-performance concepts back to their home clubs and communities.
Gascon Takes Next Step with Team Ontario White
SNVC’s provincial representation began earlier in July when Lily Gascon participated in the Team Ontario White program at Nipissing University.
Like the Regional Program, athletes are selected for Team Ontario White through the Athlete Identification process.
Team Ontario White introduces athletes to their first single-discipline training environment within the Team Ontario pathway. The program focuses on developing the foundational technical skills, behaviours and habits required for long-term success, while challenging young athletes to take greater ownership of their development.
Gascon trained at Nipissing University from July 11–20, with the final three days featuring the Team Ontario Cup, a competition designed to combine high-level play with continued athlete development.
For Gascon, 10 days surrounded by some of Ontario’s top young volleyball players provided both a challenge and an opportunity.
“My experience at Team Ontario White was an amazing 10 days,” said Gascon. “Being able to play with some of the best players in the province pushed me to improve all aspects of my game.”
She also credited the Team Ontario coaching staff with creating an environment where athletes could learn and build confidence.
“The coaching staff was incredible and their ability to assist every player regardless of their skill level helped create a new confidence within the playing atmosphere,” she said. “I am beyond grateful to have been given an opportunity as such, and will continue to grow as an athlete by using everything I have learned from this camp so far.”
Representing Superior North
For a northern club, having athletes and coaches earn opportunities within the Team Ontario pathway is about more than individual achievement. These experiences allow athletes and coaches to continue building on their development while bringing high-performance knowledge and experience back to SNVC and the broader volleyball community in Northwestern Ontario.
SNVC is incredibly proud of Amisheva, Cianfagna, Gascon and Curtis for representing Superior North at the provincial level this summer.
Their selections reflect the work each has put into the sport, but also the continued growth of volleyball in Northwestern Ontario and the opportunities available to young athletes who want to pursue the game at a higher level.
Congratulations to Devina, Kayley, Lily and Julia on an outstanding summer with Team Ontario. We look forward to seeing where their volleyball journeys take them next.