Vernon’s Landon Currie is going to join his Team BC men’s volleyball teammates for dinner and then watch some wrestling tonight at the Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg.
Currie, an 18-year-old libero who plays every minute, was still trying to process B.C.’s semifinal loss to Ontario earlier Friday at the Investor’s Group Athletic Centre. Ontario won the match 3-1 (19-25, 26-24, 25-16, 25-13).
“We have to put our boots on and take home the bronze medal,” said Currie, a Fulton Maroons grad headed to Thompson Rivers University WolfPack this fall.
Michael Dowhaniuk (Surrey) led Team BC with excellent serving in the opening set. There were many lead changes and the set was tied at 17-17 at one juncture.
Team Ontario took an early lead 7-3 in the second set. Team BC fought back to tie at 24-24 before losing. Ontario took the third set 25-16 putting Team BC in a must-win scenario.
Down 16-9 in the 4th set, Ontario eventually won 25-13.
“It was a tough one,” said Currie. “Our first set was good but the last three was not our best volleyball. We knew they were the favourites and I think that might have got in our heads.”
Team BC play for a bronze medal Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (Pacific) against either Quebec or Alberta.
BC stopped Manitoba 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-15) in quarterfinal action shown live Thursday afternoon at TSN. They started the day by dispatching Nova Scotia 3-0 (25-15, 25-10, 25-19).
Currie and his teammates are staying at the University of Manitoba athletes village. They have also take in soccer and softball. BC was third in the medal standings with 106, three back of Quebec. Ontario was leading at 169 medals.