WATERLOO REGION (April 8, 2024) – On Monday, District 8 announced its girls’ volleyball first and second team all-stars, with top honours going to Resurrection’s Maya Slavcev, who was named the league’s most valuable player.
Slavcev, a grade 11 setter was vial in leading Resurrection to their third straight District 8 senior girls volleyball title. She also happens to be the second in her family to receive the honour, as her older sister Alex was named league MVP in 2021-22.
“Maya’s nomination as MVP speaks volumes about her exceptional skills and quiet leadership as a setter,” said Resurrection head coach Claire Godkin. “Her precise technique, strong work ethic, and ability to elevate the performance of her teammates have been instrumental in our team’s success.”
Joining Slavcev as league all-stars are teammates Isabella Gancevich who was named to the first team, and Althea Rabano to the second team. Together, they rallied to the triple-A CWOSSA semi-final appearance but were unable to get past the eventual tournament champion.
Libby Spence from Père-René-de-Galinée returns as a first team all-star selection after being named to the squad last season as a grade 10. Spence, now a grade 11 middle, along with grade 12 left side attack and fellow all-star Na’ya Bathia, swept through single-A CWOSSA to win gold and finished top-eight at OFSAA.
Last year’s MVP standout Lauren Bannister returns as a first team all-star in 2024 for St. Mary’s. She is joined by teammates; grade 12 setter Thea Angelica Bernal on the first team, and grade 12 middle Josephine Adeoni on the second team.
Grade 12 left side swinger Sarah Habsch was named as a first team all-star from St. David’s, while teammate Payton Osborn was named to the second team. Together, they helped the Celtics to a fourth-place finish in District 8 and collected a double-A CWOSSA silver medal.
St. Benedict’s grade 11 left side Sofia Zabjek rounds out the senior girls first team all-star selections.
Left side attackers, Paige Squires from Monsignor Doyle and Ella Umar from Rockway were named to the District 8 second team.
2023-24 District 8 Senior Girls Volleyball MVP: Maya Slavcev (Resurrection C.S.S.)
First Team (Senior):
| First Name | Last Name | Grade | Position | School |
| Lauren | Bannister | 12 | Left Side | St. Mary’s H.S. |
| Thea Angelica | Bernal | 12 | Setter | St. Mary’s H.S. |
| Isabella | Gancevich | 11 | Left Side | Resurrection C.S.S. |
| Sarah | Habsch | 12 | Left Side | St. David C.S.S. |
| Maya | Slavcev | 11 | Setter | Resurrection C.S.S. |
| Libby | Spence | 11 | Middle | E.S.C. Père-René-de-Galinée |
| Sofia | Zabjek | 11 | Left Side | St. Benedict C.S.S. |
Second Team (Senior):
| First Name | Last Name | Grade | Position | School |
| Josephine | Adeoni | 12 | Middle | St. Mary’s H.S. |
| Na’ya | Bathia | 12 | Left Side | E.S.C. Père-René-de-Galinée |
| Payton | Osborne | 12 | Middle | St. David C.S.S. |
| Althea | Rabano | 12 | Left Side | Resurrection C.S.S. |
| Paige | Squires | 12 | Left Side | Monsignor Doyle C.S.S. |
| Ella | Umar | 11 | Left Side | Rockway M.C. |
First Team (Junior):
| First Name | Last Name | Grade | Position | School |
| Émilie | Gervais | 9 | Left Side | E.S.C. Père-René-de-Galinée |
| Maia | Macovei | 10 | Right Side | E.S.C. Père-René-de-Galinée |
| Elle | Martins | 9 | Setter | Monsignor Doyle C.S.S. |
| Hailey | Murdoch | 10 | Left Side | St. Benedict C.S.S. |
| Megan | Schotsch | 10 | Right Side | Monsignor Doyle C.S.S. |
| Morgan | Strohack | 10 | Left Side | St. David C.S.S. |
| Sophie | Thomas | 9 | Middle | Resurrection C.S.S. |
Second Team (Junior):
| First Name | Last Name | Grade | Position | School |
| Jada | Cockburn | 9 | Setter | St. Benedict C.S.S. |
| sophie | Heimpel | 10 | Setter | St. David C.S.S. |
| Brooke | Hubert | 9 | Left Side | St. Mary’s H.S. |
| Amal | Margan | 10 | Middle | Resurrection C.S.S. |
| Lauren | McLeod | 10 | Middle | Rockway M.C. |
| Ava | Santos | 9 | Left Side | Monsignor Doyle C.S.S. |
| Sareena | Tutunjian | 9 | Setter | E.S.C. Père-René-de-Galinée |
