Coming off a first place finish at the North Island Championships, the Highland Junior Boys Volleyball team were headed off to Oak Bay for the Island Championships on November 8 and 9.
The top two berths from the Island Championships earn a spot in the provincial tournament. The whole team committed to the goal of making it to provincials, said coach Brian Stevens. Stevens also said that the tournament last week was "the most important one of the season.
"All of our other successes the past few months were significant and important, but were going to be measured against how we performed at the Islands."
The first game was against Pacific Christian School, a team that the Highland boys hadn't faced yet this year. However, they came out strong and beat PCS in two straight sets with scores of 25-21 and 25-20. The next match was against the home team, Oak Bay.
"This ended up being an exciting and hard fought game for both teams," Stevens said in his game report. "We took the first set 25-22, Oak Bay won the second 25-20, and the third set was up for grabs. We had played a lot of third sets this season so the boys were ready for it. It was a see-saw back and forth with points and lead changes, however, Oak Bay took the third set 15-11."
The team ended the first day by defeating Duncan, placing them second in their pool. They were back on the court on Saturday morning against Lambrick Park.
"Lambrick Park is a solid team with a lot of determination," Stevens said. "We had played Lambrick Park in the finals of the Ladysmith tournament in September and beat them; however, now were competing for a place in the semi-finals and a possible berth to Provincials. For a morning game, sleeping in a hotel, and playing 7 sets of volleyball the day before, Highland was more than ready to play. Our defense, overall consistent play, support of each other, and less and less unforced errors, all came together even more for this match. We beat Lambrick Park 25-21, 25-20."
For the semi finals, they faced Claremont, and a win would clinch the spot in the finals and the provincials. Highland won the first set, but were challenged on the second one. That meant the game went into a third set, which Stevens said "would determine our season's fate." In the third set, the teams played until one side scored eight points, and then they would switch sides. Highland got to eight points first, and continued scoring points on the new side of the gym.
Stevens described it best in his report, saying "At 10-7 we got the ball to serve. There was something about the atmosphere in the gym that the momentum was with us鈥laremont was rattled and were now down at a critical point in the game. However, 10-7 in the third set is NOT a guarantee and if momentum swings then this lead could evaporate as fast as it happened. We earned the next point鈥�11-7. We served again and blocked their power hitter for 12-7. Then we got to 13-7. Claremont was now on the ropes鈥eady for the taking. 14-7 now and we were poised to take the third set.
"The gym, at this point, was dead silent. Everybody waiting to see how this would unfold. At 14-7 we missed the serve and now it was 14-8 with Claremont serving the ball. All we needed was to get one more point. One more. Claremont served. This was a very nice jump float serve. We passed a perfect ball. It was set out to power and with one attack over the net, the ball dropped on Claremont鈥檚 side and Highland won 15-8. The gym went absolutely BONKERS. People spilling onto the court congratulating us. The team pouring over each other and jumping and hugging and cheering. It was something out of a movie."
Riding high, the boys went on to play Oak Bay in the finals. This game also went to three sets, and was close until the scores were 10-all. Slowly, Oak Bay began pulling away, and got the momentum to finish 15-11. However, their top-two placement in the tournament meant that Highland clinched their provincial championship spot.
"These boys represented the 鈥楬鈥� with pride, respect, and outstanding sportsmanship," Stevens said. "I am beyond proud of these young men who have really gelled as a team and always support each other no matter what. We have stuck with our process this season and the boys bought in to a high standard of training, trusting themselves and their mates, and being ambassadors of Highland school and the sport of volleyball. Go RAIDERS!"
