It was the first post-pandemic Queen Vicki tournament for the (VGVA), held over two days at its new venue, the 91原创 Events Centre (LEC), on Saturday, March 18, and Sunday, March 19.

VGVA chair Nelson Santos said the association was still recovering from COVID restrictions that forced several cancellations of the tournament.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the first one in three years,鈥� Santos noted.

鈥淧re-COVID, we had up to 48 [teams competing in the Queen Vicki tournament], but after COVID, things are starting to slowly get back together,鈥� Santos told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淭his year we have 24, 25 teams.鈥�

The 2023 edition saw the event relocate from its previous home to the LEC.

鈥淣ormally we would play up at the Richmond Oval, just because of the size of the tournament,鈥� Santos said.

鈥淲e need about eight courts, and that鈥檚 the only facility in the Lower Mainland that has that, but 91原创 was available and has that many courts as well.鈥�

It was a positive experience, he said.

鈥淭he tournament ran smooth and on time,鈥� Santos summarized.

鈥淧layers all reported having a fantastic time and were very happy to return to a normal tournament after a 3 year hiatus.鈥�

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Santos thinks the event could make the move to 91原创 permanent.

鈥淭he venue was so amazing, we would love to return,鈥� Santos commented.

Richmond Oval, where the tournament has played for years, has become 鈥渄ifficult to deal with for local tournaments,鈥� requiring a 50-room block booking with local hotels, Santos explained.

鈥淭his makes it hard for local smaller organizations to play there,鈥� he observed.

鈥淚t seems they want to focus on larger national tournaments [and] that leaves us at a loss.鈥�

At the 2023 91原创 event, 鈥淏鈥� winning teams were (gold) Vancouver set it up, (silver) Denver Mile High (bronze) and Seattle Big Dig Energy, while 鈥淏B鈥� winners were (gold) Spokane Cerebus, (silver) Vancouver Vixens and (Bronze) Vancouver Empire Spikes Back.

VGVA is a provincially registered non-profit society, with divisions ranging from beginner up to club level.

It is one of the longest operating volunteer organized sports groups in the Lower Mainland with a stated purpose of promoting 鈥渁 gay-positive and inclusive environment that focuses on volleyball play, fitness and 鈥� most of all 鈥� lots of fun.鈥�

More photos from the day can be viewed online at the .

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