WATERLOO REGION (April 13, 2023) – On Wednesday District 8 announced its girls volleyball first and second team all-stars, which was headlined by Lauren Bannister who was named the league’s most valuable player. 

Bannister led St. Mary’s to the District 8 championship final where they took the top seeded Resurrection Phoenix late into the fifth set before being edged out for gold. The grade 11 left side attacker was nearly unstoppable in the season when serving and attacking at the net. 

“Lauren was the co-captain as a Grade 11 student in her second year playing senior volleyball,” said St. Mary’s coach Jeremy Farwell. “She is an outstanding athlete who also excels academically.  Her dedication, positive attitude, and leadership helped to propel our team into the Championship game.  She was named MVP because she was the strongest player on the court, both offensively and defensively in every match this season.”

Joining Bannister from St. Mary’s, is grade 12 setter Olivia Leite who was named as a first team all-star, and grade 11 left side hitter Bethany Lassaline who was named as a second team all-star. 

Resurrection captured their second straight senior girls volleyball championship, led by first team all-stars Kylie Moser as a left side attack and Marjorie Levesque as a setter. They are joined by teammate and second team all-star, grade 11 setter Althea Rabano. 

E.S.C. Père-René-de-Galinée wrapped their season at the single-A OFSAA quarter-final after collecting a single-A CWOSSA gold medal, led by District 8 first team all-star Libby Spence. 

Grade 12 middle Laura Ciz was named as a first team all-star from St. Benedict’s, and her teammate, grade 12 middle Robyn Squires was named to the second team. 

Woodland’s Elianna Trafford was named as a first team all-star, while Crimson Biafore from Monsignor Doyle and Johanna Dyck Steinmann were named as second team all-stars.  

2022-23 District 8 Senior Girls Basketball Co-MVP: Lauren Bannister (St. Mary’s H.S.)

First Team (Senior):

First Name	Last Name	Grade	Position	School
Lauren	Bannister	11	Left side	St. Mary’s H.S.
Laura	Ciz	12	Middle	St. Benedict C.S.S.
Olivia	Leite	12	Setter	St. Mary’s H.S.
Marjorie	Levesque	11	Setter	Resurrection C.S.S.
Kylie	Moser	12	Left side	Resurrection C.S.S.
Libby	Spence	10	Middle	E.S.C. Père-René-de-Galinée
Elianna	Trafford	11	Setter	Woodland Christian H.S.

Second Team (Senior):

First Name	Last Name	Grade	Position	School
Crimson	Biafore	12	Left side	Monsignor Doyle C.S.S.
Johanna	Dyck Steinmann	12	Left side	Rockway M.C.
Sarah	Habsch	11	Left side	St. David C.S.S.
Bethany	Lassaline	11	Left side	St. Mary’s H.S.
Althea	Rabano	11	Setter	Resurrection C.S.S.
Robyn	Squires	12	Middle	St. Benedict C.S.S.

First Team (Junior):

First Name	Last Name	Grade	Position	School
Kiera	Aldworth	10	Setter	St. David C.S.S.
Ava	Brokenshire	10	Middle	Resurrection C.S.S.
Rachel	Dudziak	10	Left side	St. Mary’s H.S.
Marissa	Mattson	10	Left side	Monsignor Doyle C.S.S.
Rachel	Saliba	10	Libero	Woodland Christian H.S.
Ella	Umar	10	Middle	Rockway M.C.
Olivia	Ward	10	Setter	Monsignor Doyle C.S.S.

Second Team (Junior):

First Name	Last Name	Grade	Position	School
Sherry	Cao	10	Setter	St. David C.S.S.
Katelyn	Coelho	10	Setter	St. Mary’s H.S.
Emma	Gray	10	Setter	E.S.C. Père-René-de-Galinée
Amal	Margan	9	Middle	Resurrection C.S.S.
Alex	Rahemtulla	10	Left side	Rockway M.C.
Megan	Schotsch	9	Right side	Monsignor Doyle C.S.S.