The goal going into the B.C. Division 2 Provincial Club Volleyball Championships for Vernon’s Sky Volleyball Club U17 girls squad was a medal at the Richmond Oval.
They won the big one.
Troy Lorenson’s Sky girls defeated the Nanaimo Mariners 26-24, 22-25, 15-9 in a repeat of the 2017 final. The gold medal match was played after a lengthy delay at 9 p.m. Saturday, and in front of a packed bleachers with Sky teams and their parents.
“The team set a goal to medal at provincials, and I am so proud of the work they put in to make it happen,” said Lorenson. “This year’s team is not a physically dominant team, but we make up for our lack of size with heart and teamwork.
“They never give up on a ball or each other.”
Sky won all four of their pool play matches on Friday - defeating the Focus, Apex, I Dig It, and South Cowichan clubs. They did not drop a set, and finished the day 8-0, giving them a bye into the semi-finals.
On Saturday afternoon they met T2 of Kelowna, and came out with a hard-won, comeback victory after dropping the first set. They prevailed 18-25, 25-22 and 15-11.
The gold medal match was played after a lengthy delay at 9:00 at night. Despite the time, the bleachers were packed with other Sky teams and parents. The opponent was the Mariners from Nanaimo (a repeat of the 2017 Provincial final). The match went to an exciting third set, and Sky pulled it out in front of their boisterous crowd. Scores were 26-24, 22-25, 15-9.
“The team set a goal to medal at Provincials, and I am so proud of the work they put in to make it happen. This years team is not a physically dominant team, but we make up for our lack of size with heart and teamwork. They never give up on a ball, or each other.”
Members of the team include co-captains Gabby Triggs and Maisa Orosz, Sorcha Pasco, Nadia Smith, Victoria Schneider, Paige Noakes, Shaylee Hunter, Bree Vanderleest, Sydney Fillion, Megan Sherwood, Jaide Vanderleest and Emily Sorochuk.