For Max Bast, playing in the National Team Challenge Cup was the most intense volleyball he has ever experienced.
Bast was one of four Prince George players who cracked the 16-and-under Team B.C. roster and played at nationals, which concluded last Sunday in Kingston, Ont. The locals - including Carter Karpenko, Ryan Hampe and Cody Boulding - are all Duchess Park students and were split evenly between Team B.C. Blue and Team B.C. Red. The Blue squad, which featured Bast, Karpenko and Hampe, placed fourth in the nine-team tournament while the Red squad, with Boulding in the lineup, finished in silver-medal position.
"There was a lot of intensity and there was a lot of competition because you're playing for your province," Bast said. "It's definitely a different feeling than playing for your school or for your city because you represent the entirety of B.C."
B.C. Blue faced Alberta for the bronze medal but lost 25-18, 22-25, 25-18, 25-17. B.C. Red, meanwhile, met Ontario Red in the championship match but fell 25-12, 25-16, 25-20.
The six-foot Bast is normally a power hitter but played part of one match as a libero after a gruesome injury to Jeremiah Macadam of Langley. Macadam was hurt when he dove for a ball, arm outstretched, and had another diving teammate land on the arm.
"At the elbow, (his arm) was completely bent backwards and he had to go to the hospital," Bast said.
"It just snapped. We heard a crack."
After the incident, Karpenko, who was in the libero position, was a bit rattled and was struggling with his passing so Bast took over at the spot.
All in all, Bast said he had a great time as a provincial-level player. More than 65 players attended the final selection camp, held in early July at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops.
"I never actually expected to make Team B.C. because when you try out, it's a bunch of kids that are six-two to six-five," Bast said. "But, I don't know, I played pretty well during the tryouts so I made it. It was definitely a good experience with a good bunch of guys and really intense training. We did four hours of on-court every single day."
The players who earned spots in the Team B.C. program trained at TRU before they headed east for the national gathering.
At the Challenge Cup, Boulding - a middle blocker - was one of the standout performers and was invited to stay in Kingston a little longer so he could work with national-calibre coaches.
The National Team Challenge Cup also featured an 18-and-under division. In that tournament, a 17U B.C. team that had Prince George's Ben Shand in uniform finished sixth in a field of 13.
