The PGSS Polars and College Heights Cougars experienced volleyball at a whole new level.
The local junior girls squads finished 16th and 17th respectively at the 24-team provincial championship tournament, held Thursday to Saturday in Richmond. The Polars, the north central zone champs, would probably have placed higher at provincials if not for a series of personnel challenges.
"We had some issues over the course of the tournament," said PGSS coach Jasen Florell. "We had two kids (Liza Cupp and Jessica Erickson) that were flying down and their flights were canceled, so then they tried to drive and the highways were closed. They actually caught a late flight and got in about midnight on the Thursday night. Then I had a girl (Nicole Rackel) drop a hairspray can on her toe on Friday morning, one of my starting powers. She didn't play that much. When she did play on Saturday morning for us, she got sick and her parents ended up having to take her home.
"And my middle blocker, Mavia Nijjer, badly sprained her thumb on Tuesday before we left. It was just one of those weeks. We'd had such a clean year. We were basically injury-free and problem-free and it all kind of compiled on one weekend. It happens, and it's no excuse. I think after winning zones, they might have peaked out. That was a really big highlight for the year."
At the B.C. final, the Polars won one of their seven matches. Their lone victory was a 25-18, 21-25, 15-12 decision against the St. Thomas More Knights of Burnaby.
Other members of the Polars are Jill Cole, Emily Aase, Chantelle Jimenez, Lacey LaBounty, Tianna Pius, Amy Denicola, Kirsten Mogensen and Chase Pidherry.
The Cougars, zone runners-up to PGSS, actually posted a better record at provincials (3-4) but a loss at the wrong time ultimately dropped them one spot lower than their cross-town rival. After College Heights slipped to the consolation side of the draw, the team picked up its play and won three in a row. Victories came against Handsworth of North Vancouver, Correlieu of Quesnel and St. Thomas More.
"Our final game against St. Thomas More was probably one of our strongest performances of the season," said College Heights coach Pamela Parker, who watched her team beat the Knights in straight sets.
"They really wanted to take advantage of their last opportunity to play together. They managed to use that and played so well collectively. Everyone was on their game, everybody contributed and it was just the perfect way to end our season."
Cougars players are Levi Meyer, Mercedes Minck, Alexa Dougherty, Gaby Rainbacher, Chantel Nicholson, Danika Kettles, Michelle Wagner, Shauna Lovell, Alexis Hauck, Morgan Samuelson, Courtenay Crellin, Kassandra Jang and Annissa Fielding.
Top-seeded Pacific Academy of Surrey beat Kelowna Christian in the provincial final.
