Morning Star Staff
The Seaton Sonics are a top-five ranked senior AA girls volleball team looking for top billing.
They may rate No. 1 status if they keep winning in league and tournament action. The Sonics were 3-0 going into Saturday afternoon play in the 27th Fulton Maroons Senior Girls Invivational. Seaton turned back the Maroons 25-15, 25-19 Saturday morning.
Coached by Geoff Huggins, Seaton dispatched the Kalamalka Lakers 25-17, 25-15 in their opener of the seven-team tourney.
Ava Haldane sparked the Sonics with 11 service points, while Ellen Van Buren rang up seven kills. The Sonics got solid passing from Rose Harned and Emma Haner.
The Sonics then had a fantastic battle with Valleyview Vikings, brushing back the Kamloops school 2-1 (22-25, 25-13, 15-13). Seaton gave away too many points in the first set. but Sam Scott sparked things in the second set by serving 14 consecutive points and the entire team played great defence. Haldane was big from the middle with seven kills and seven blocks.
Seaton followed by stopping the George Elliot Coyotes of Lake Country in another three-set thriller (25-19, 27-29, 15-12) The Sonics built an early 10-point lead in the opening game. Setter Kalli Hamilton-Gee pocketed 15 assists, while Haner provided five blocks.
“The back row was controlled by Sam Scott and libero Maddie Findlay-Proctor, who had to deal with a ferocious Coyote attack,” said Huggins.
“Ella Oduro was solid in her serving. Dana Kievit came up with four huge kills in the third set to put the Coyotes away. The Sonics demonstrated great mental toughness in a tense action-packed match.”
The Sonics went into the Maroons’ extravaganza on a high after finishing league play undefeated with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-17) victory over the Kalamalka Lakers. Kievit amassed eight kills, while Findlay-Proctor and Drew Barker registered some sweet passing.
The AA Maroons grounded the AA Westsyde Whundas of Kamloops 2-1 (20-25, 26-24, 15-11) in their first tournament match.
George Elliot – ranked in the Top 10 AA – then toppled the Maroons 25-19, 25-19 with Fulton rebounding to sweep the AAA VSS Panthers 25-20, 25-10.
“Allison Hobkirk is having an all-star tournament,” said Fulton head coac Sharon Shaigec. “She is in the zone passing on serve receive and she went on a 13-point serving run against VSS. Her serve is low and like a bullet. Her attack and blocking has been keeping the opposing teams off balance.
“Emily Dahl and Abby Hughes have been clutch from the power position as ‘go-to-hitters’ and have been solid on defence. Jasmine Fox has emerged into a veteran starter racking up five stuff blocks and a couple of deep hits. Ray Lee Grainger has moved into the rightside position providing us with bigger block and a more attack options. Murriah Robertson, captain and starting setter, has remained calm in tight games and raised her game with confidence and intensity.”
Buy Low Foods, The Rice Box,, and Wings are the major tournment sponsors.
Today we play Valleyview, Seaton and Kal. Tuesday Fulton hosts at 4,5,6pm Kal, Revelstoke and PVSS in the North Zone Championships. Following the girls games, The Fulton Sr. Boys play/host Seaton in the Best of 5 North Zone Championship game.