The Rocky View Sports Association (RVSA) varsity boys volleyball regular season came to an end, Oct. 26.
The top two teams on the men’s side played a back-and-forth five-setter, as the Chestermere Lakers came back from a 2-1 deficit to beat the George McDougall Mustangs three sets to two.
“It was close every set,” said Lakers’ head coach Theresa Wood.
“In the fifth set, I reinforced the importance to getting up on the scoreboard early and that’s what we did and that won us the match.”
Chestermere won the first set 25-17, only to lose the next two 20-25 and 24-26. They stormed back to win the fourth, before winning the fifth 15-8.
“I think we got a little ahead of ourselves after winning the first set,” said Wood. “George Mac played incredible defence. I just rallied the guys together and told them to be patient and to get the ball back. My guys just didn’t want to lose, and their competitive spirit kicked in.”
Four other boys’ teams closed out the regular season on Oct. 26, with Springbank defeating Bow Valley 3-1 and Cochrane beating Bert Church 3-0. Springbank will now play Cochrane in the first quarter-final of the RVSA divisional championships and Bert Church will play Bow Valley in the second quarter-final.
Chestermere’s second place finish in the standings gave them a berth to the semis of the RVSA divisional championship where they await the winner of Bert Church and Bow Valley.
George Mac will play either Cochrane or Springbank in their semifinal match. For Chestermere, there are three keys to being successful at the divisional tournament, Wood said.
“We need solid passing off serve returns, discipline on defence and establishing our middles,” she said.
The seedings for divisionals were also determined on the ladies’ side, Oct. 26.
Bow Valley will take on George Mac in one semifinal, while Springbank will face Chestermere for the second spot in the Tier I final. The winner of the Bert Church and W.G. Murdoch match-up will face Cochrane in the Tier II final. All the men’s and ladies’ matches will take place Nov. 4 – 5 at the Volleydome in Calgary.
