At the start of the season, the PGSS Polars weren't sure what to expect of themselves. With seven Grade 9s and only four Grade 10s in uniform, the local junior girls volleyball team was full of question marks when it came to overall potential.
Now, two-and-a-half months later, the Polars are getting ready to travel to the provincial championship in Delta.
The Polars, coached by Jasen Florell and Amy Denicola, clinched a berth in the B.C. tournament when they placed second at zones this past weekend in Dawson Creek. PGSS defeated the rival College Heights Cougars 19-25, 25-23, 15-9 in the semifinal round and then fell 25-14, 25-21 to Dawson Creek in the final.
"We had one of our stronger overall weekends," said Florell, who typically uses five Grade 9 players as starters. "We usually have moments where we play up and then we play down but we played pretty solid all weekend and it was good to see."
At the district championship the previous weekend, the host Polars lost to the Cougars in the final. But, at zones, PGSS got past College Heights in three sets during pool play. Then in the all-important semifinal clash, with a spot in provincials up for grabs, the Polars generated some momentum in the second set and rode it to the win.
"We were down most of the second set as well and about half way through we went on a little run and got the lead and you could see the confidence come back into the kids," Florell said. "From then on, I think it was just desire. They figured, 'We're going to do this and let's go do it.'"
In the final, the Polars faced a Dawson Creek team that was much more experienced.
"Dawson Creek, they were all Grade 10s and they were big," Florell said. "They were a solid team all-around. The first set wasn't that close but the second set, we were ahead for most of it, I think until we got to 21. They passed us in the end but we had them on the ropes for a good while in the second set. I think a break here or there and we could have beaten them."
Four members of the Polars - Cassidy Malgunas, Emily Pinko, Haley Johnson and Caley Leslie - were chosen as zone all-stars. The team also features Nina Gajic, Reece Halovich, Hailey Halovich, Kamryn Ellery, August Reed, Mackenzie Ostberg and Sydnee Witso.
This is the third consecutive year a PGSS junior girls volleyball team has qualified for provincials. With past appearances in mind, Florell knows the level of play will be extremely high.
"The last couple years we've gone down with the hopes of a top-10 finish possibly and it's been the total opposite," he said. "I think this year we're just going down there to enjoy it and for the Grade 9 kids to gain the experience and see what the next level looks like. And we'll see what happens."
The three-day tournament starts on Nov. 24.
