The D.P. Todd Trojans have been problematic this time of year for the College Heights Cougars.
Two years ago the Trojans denied the Cougars at the North Central zone junior A boys volleyball final, and last year the Cougars' bid for the double-A senior title was derailed in four sets by the Trojans in the zone final at College Heights gym
But with the senior zone banner up for grabs Saturday at D.P. Todd gym, the Cougars found a way to end the Trojans' reign, beating their cross-town nemesis in straight sets, 25-19, 25-15, 25-22.
"Both sides expected to win and the pressure was on for both teams," said Cougars power hitter Ben Shand, the tournament MVP. "We kept it on a constant line, we didn't really play any better than we wanted to and we didn't play any worse than we wanted to and that just helped everyone stay in the right mindset.
"The first two sets were pretty smooth sailing for us and that's kind of what we expected but we got a little antsy towards the end of the third set and started to get a little nervous. But we pulled through."
Both teams claimed berths in the double-A provincial championship, Dec. 2-5 in Langley.
The Cougars got to the final with a three-set, 25-10, 25-16, 25-8 semifinal win over the Kelly Road Roadrunners. D.P. Todd eliminated the Duchess Park Condors 25-22, 25-20, 25-18 in the other semifinal. The Condors claimed bronze in straight sets over Kelly Road.
Power hitter Jared Apolczer and middle blocker Jonah Gilbert found success stuffing the Trojans' attack, teaming up at the net with Shand, who set the bar offensively for the Cougars with his knack for finding uncovered teritory.
Setter Graham Walkey and Nick Hansen, who was voted the tournament's most outstanding Lbero, were stellar in the digging department for College Heights.
"We really stepped up our defence and took it a step higher for the final," said the 16-year-old Shand.
The Cougars have just one Grade 12 player - Alex Benny - all the rest are Grade 11 athletes. College Heights was ranked sixth in the province sixth heading into the zone playoffs and will retain their top-10 grouping with the Trojans to start their seeding matches in Langley Dec. 2.
"It's always special to win a zone championship and this one is pretty special with a young group of guys like this," said head coach Jay Guillet.
"A couple years ago they were all in Grade 9 and they lost to the same group of D.P. Todd guys and they hadn't beaten them in a zone (playoff) before so this is like the monkey off their backs."
Trojans Libero Malcolm Lambert and right-side hitter Kieran Leboe made the all-star team with Apolzer, Duchess Park setter Jabob Tiani and Kelly Road power hitter Bradn Dukacz.
In other zone results, the North Peace Ooks took advantage of their home court in Fort St. John to win two of three matches over the Prince George Polars to win the triple-A boys title. Both will represent the North Central zone at the triple-A boys provincial tournament in Langley, Dec. 1-5.
Backed by the tournament MVP efforts of Katelyn Bryant and all-star performances from Brittany Rochon and Mackenzie Van Spengen, the D.P. Todd Trojans senior girls locked up the lone double-A provincial berth Saturday at the College of New Caledonia, defeating the Nechako Valley Viqueens of Vanderhoof, 25-20, 25-12, 25-19.
