At 5-foot-3, Asia Rattigan isnB次元官网网址檛 worried about the added challenge her height, or lack thereof, brings on the volleyball court.

Especially in the company of pal Nicole Bracewell, all six feet of her.

The pair of 15 year olds are the South IslandB次元官网网址檚 only contribution to the Island and Coastal (Zone 6) 15-and-under volleyball team competing in the B.C. Summer Games in Surrey, July 19 to 22.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 usually the small kid,B次元官网网址� said Rattigan, whoB次元官网网址檚 also a Saanich B次元官网网址 carrier of seven years. B次元官网网址淧retty much always, actually.B次元官网网址�

But donB次元官网网址檛 be deceived, said Bracewell.

B次元官网网址�(RattiganB次元官网网址檚) got hops. SheB次元官网网址檚 a great setter and she can get to almost any ball and will dive for anything.B次元官网网址�

As added proof, Rattigan tied for first in the pole vault for bantam age girls at the track and field city championships.

The friends were born two days apart and are separated by nine inches in height, and are enjoying summer before Grade 10. Rattigan will return to Oak Bay High, while Bracewell is transferring to Belmont secondary from Spencer middle school.

On June 4, they were among 56 girls trying out for the Zone 6 team in Nanaimo. It was an all day process, with plenty of individual skills and drills.

The Summer Games is a rare chance for the girls to play together on the same team. They were both on a representative Victoria entry at an international tournament last year. But here in town, Bracewell plays on the right side and middle with the 250 TitansB次元官网网址� U16 squad, while Rattigan is a setter with the Victoria Volleyball AssociationB次元官网网址檚 U15 Chargers. TheyB次元官网网址檒l likely assume the same roles at the Summer Games.

Since making the roster, the girls are training 10 to 11 hours per day in Campbell River, four days per week leading up to July 19.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 great to get to play together for once,B次元官网网址� Rattigan said. B次元官网网址淣icoleB次元官网网址檚 an amazing blocker and a super passer. SheB次元官网网址檚 an overall great teammate, but is pretty competitive and shows no mercy (in going for kills).B次元官网网址�

Rattigan got her start at the volleyball factory that is Lansdowne middle school under coach Rick Wutzke.

Lansdowne is better known for producing many of the cityB次元官网网址檚 top male volleyball players despite the boys lagging in numbers behind the girls.

Wuztke is co-coaching the Zone 6 boys U15 team with Oak Bay HighB次元官网网址檚 Al Carmichael. Just 14 players come out to tryouts, with 11 making the team, nine of them from Victoria: Haansen Christenson, Alan Lau, Michael Connacher, David Lee, Matt Mitchner, Kyle Bourden, Cole Beevor-Potts, John Fitterer and Dan Chen.

Seven of the players are from Lansdowne, and were with the U15 Chargers that finished second at the club provincials this spring.

B次元官网网址淎ctually, (Rattigan) used to practise with the boys too,B次元官网网址� Wutzke said.

B次元官网网址淲hen we went to the gym at recess, she was there.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 going to be a great player. The beauty is, even though she wonB次元官网网址檛 be a tall girl, sheB次元官网网址檒l have a spot as a libero.B次元官网网址�

About 4,000 visitors B次元官网网址� including spectators, athletes, officials and coaches, as well as their families and friends B次元官网网址� are expected to flow into Surrey during the three days of the event. The economic impact is expected to be between $2.5 and $3 million to restaurants, shopping malls and transportation.