Seaton Sonics finally beat their nemesis. And at the best possible time.
Jeff Huggins’ Sonics downed the No. 5-ranked South Kamloops Titans 25-22, 25-22, 25-20 in the final of the Okanagan Valley AAA Senior Girls volleyball championships in Kamloops to earn a berth to the B.C. championships Dec. 1-3 in Kelowna.
Ella Oduro delivered 10 straight serves for Seaton in the opening set which changed the complexion of the game. Oduro was aided by great back-row play from Maddie Findlay Procter and Dana Kievit, and tenacious front-row play from Ava Haldane and Sam Scott.
“Our quick attack offence posed too big a problem for South Kam,” said Huggins. “Players from every position rained down killer blows.”
Emma Haner was deadly with four back-row kills. Setter Kalli Hamilton-Gee – who had 23 assists in a straight sets semifinal win over city rivals Vernon Panthers – moved the ball around, keeping the Titans guessing. Oduro served 21 points in the final, Haner had 15.
Oduro and Scott were chosen as tournament all-stars.
In Seaton’s 25-19, 25-13, 28-26 win over the Panthers, Scott led the way with nine kills and stepped up with several huge line shots to seal the victory.
The Vernon Christian Royals placed fourth at the Okanagan A senior girls championships, which they hosted at Vernon Secondary School.
The Royals, coached by Jason Reedyk, will take part in a challenge game Friday against the Elkford Celtics for a wild card berth into the provincial finals .....
The game will be played at a neutral site, Mt. Sentinel Secondary, in South Slocan.
The Royals, ranked No. 8 in B.C., began pool play with a 25-11, 25-12 win over St. Ann’s Academy of Kamloops, led by captain Rebecca VanderDeen’s five kills.
The next match saw the Royals up against the defending provincial champions, Kelowna’s Immaculata Mustangs (ranked No. 3), and fell 25-9, 26-28, 15-13 (Immaculata will host the provincials Dec. 1-3).
In their final pool game, VCS defeated the Princeton Rebels 25-11, 25-8, with Claire Oordt-Bosman leading the way with seven kills, three aces and two blocks. Morgann McAmmond chipped in with three kills.
The Royals finished second in their pool and crossed over to meet the Clearwater Raiders, with VCS persevering, 25-22, 25-23. Anica Haberstock had five kills and two blocks to pace VCS, would meet the No. 1-ranked Kelowna Christian Knights in the semifinal.
Reedyk’s ladies won the first set, 25-19, but fell 25-20, 15-11 in the final two sets.
“We have come close against them a couple of times this year,” said Reedyk. “We were right there but just couldn’t pull the trigger.”
The bronze match led to the Royals facing the Mustangs again.
Both teams were tired and it showed in their play. The Royals ultimately went down in the best-of-five match, 26-24, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20.
Oordt-Bosman had 11 kills and five blocks.
“It was a big day for the girls and they played their hearts out,” said Reedyk.
“Haley Witt and Olivia Pederson provided solid setting all weekend. Katilin Morgan provided consistent hitting from the power position while Natasha St. Denis provided on point passing. Talia Matties energized the team with some key blocks.
Kelowna Christian beat Aberdeen Hall (ranked No. 4) in the all-Kelowna Valley final.
It’s the fifth year in a row the Royals will try to qualify for provincials from a wild card challenge match.
“I am optimistic of our chances given the year we have had.”
The Fulton Maroons will be one of at least seven teams taking part in a wild card challenge tournament at Lake Country’s George Elliot Secondary this weekend for two berths to the B.C. AA championships.
Sharon Shaigec’s squad finished fourth at the Okanagan championships in Kamloops, losing the five-game bronze medal match, 25-14, 25-15 and 25-22 to George Elliott.
The Maroons will be joined in Lake Country by the host Coyotes, Prince Charles Bulldogs of Creston, College Heights Cougars of Prince George, Langley Fundamental Titans, West Point Grey Wolves of Vancouver and St. Thomas More Collegiate Knights of Burnaby. Two teams will qualify for the provincial finals, Dec. 1-3, in Vanderhoof.
“It’s nice to still be alive and to still keep fighting,” said Shaigec, whose squad went 1-2 in the preliminary round, losing 25-8, 25-11, to third-ranked defending B.C. champion Sa-Hali Sabres of Kamloops, and 28-30, 25-15, 15-8 to George Elliott before beating the Kalamalka Lakers 25-22, 25-19.
In the quarterfinals, the Maroons knocked off the Westsyde Blue Wave of Kamloops 25-17, 25-19, before falling in the semifinal to Sa-Hali, 25-19, 25-18.
“Abbey Hughes and Allison Hobkirk were outstanding all weekend,” said Shaigec, who also praised the team’s only setter, Murriah Robertson. “Murriah played every single game.”