The host Seaton Sonics went 2-0 in opening day action Friday at Okanagan Valley Senior AA Boys Volleyball Championships.
Seaton (No. 3 seed Okanagan, No. 9 B.C.) opened the tournament with a three-set thriller over the Princess Margaret Mustangs of Penticton in front of a packed gym in their seeding match (best of three).
After winning the first set 25-15, the Sonics struggled to find their groove in their service and serve receive game in the second set, dropping it 25-19. Their struggles carried over to the third set deciding set, where they lost 12-5.
After a timeout, big middle Nick Maglio went on a service run, getting the Sonics right back in the match to stay. Seaton went up 16-15 and the lead changed hands several times before the Sonics put it away 20-18.
Right side hitter Trent Graham was key for the Sonics all match with several decisive kills, and setter Landen Harison did an excellent job again of mixing up the attack. Outside hitters Nakoda Parker, Ben Poulin, and Noah Schneider were dynamic above the net.
The win put Seaton in the quarterfinals (best of five) against the Summerland Rockets Friday night. Seaton took the first two sets (25-17, 25-23) and then dropped the third set 25-19.
The Sonics regrouped hard and won the fourth set 25-10 to advance to the semifinals Saturday morning.
“The boys were resilient again today,” said former Sonic setter and 2010 AA provincial championships MVP and current head coach Adam Tishenko. “Our mental game is strong right now which is a great thing in a tournament with this magnitude. They played good.”
In other opening day action, the George Elliot Coyotes of Lake Country (No. 4 B.C.) stuffed Sa-Hali Sabres of Kamloops in straight sets to earn a direct trip to the semifinals Saturday against South Okanagan Hornets, who advanced by grounding Princess Margaret 3-1 (19-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-23) in the quarters.
The top three teams move to the provincial championships, Nov. 29-Dec. 2, at the Langley Events Centre.
Meanwhile, Fulton won Pool A and the host Kalamalka Lakers were second in Pool B at the Valley Senior AA Girls playdowns.
Fulton brushed back the Valleyview Vikings of Kamloops 2-1 (25-10, 22-25, 15-13), iced Sa-Hali 2-1 (25-15, 21-25, 15-5) and swept the Merritt Panthers 2-0 (25-10, 25-6.).
George Elliot, who topped the B pool, outlasted the Lakers 2-1 (25-23, 22-25, 15-10). Kal stopped Summerland 2-0 (25-21, 25-19) and dispatched the Westsyde Whundas of Kamloops 2-1 (22-25, 25-18, 15-11).Kal iced Sa-Hali in a close first set of a quarterfinal match Saturday.
morning.