The 辫谤辞惫颈苍肠别鈥檚 top-ranked team and the defending champs will both have home cooking on their side for the 2016 edition of the B.C. A 驳颈谤濒蝉鈥� volleyball championship this weekend in 麻豆精选.
The 麻豆精选 Christian Knights and Immaculata Mustangs will co-host the 16-team provincial tourney which tips of Thursday morning at the two local schools.
A third 麻豆精选 school, Abderdeen Hall, will also be in conntetion for a B.C. title.
The top-seeded Knights, winners of the Okanagan title earlier this month, will be among the favourites over the three-day event, but head coach Dave Bingham said his team is taking nothing for granted.
鈥淢辞蝉迟 of our starting lineup has been playing at the senior level since Grade 10, so we have experience on our 蝉颈诲别,鈥� said Bingham.
鈥淏耻迟 颈迟鈥檚 the provincials and as we saw in the Grey Cup, the top-ranked team 诲辞别蝉苍鈥檛 always win. If we play well and enjoy the tournament, 迟丑补迟鈥檚 飞丑补迟鈥檚 most 颈尘辫辞谤迟补苍迟,鈥� Bingham added.
鈥泪蹿 we get into the medals, then I would be happy with 迟丑补迟.鈥�
The Knights are led by senior co-captains Jessica Regehr and Marika Harris, setter Tenley Csolle and Kara Stasiewich.
KCS is grouped in pool play with the second-ranked White Rock, No. 3 Aderdeen Hall, and the fourth-ranked Mustangs.
Immaculata, which won back-to-back B.C. titles in 2014 and 2015, are in an underdog role this time around.
Head coach Kasandra Palmer said what the 2016 Mustangs may give up in pure volleyball talent, they make up for in character and attitude.
鈥淲别 have a team not of volleyball players but of 补迟丑濒别迟别蝉,鈥� said Palmer, a Mustang alumni who is in her 12th season on the coaching staff.
鈥淎迟 the end of the day, games are won and lost on the mental side of the sport.
鈥淲别 have a really good group of girls and 迟丑别测鈥檙别 extremely 肠濒辞蝉别,鈥� Palmer added.
鈥淐辞尘颈苍驳 in not ranked No. 1 takes a bit of the pressure off of them. If the girls play the way they can, they certainly have a chance at being in the 尘别诲补濒蝉.鈥�
The Mustangs will be led into battle by seniors Kate Johnson, Lexi Bruschinsky and Ashlyn Day.
This will be 笔补濒尘别谤鈥檚 last provincial tournament as 惭耻蝉迟补苍驳蝉鈥� head coach. She will step down at 蝉别补蝉辞苍鈥檚 end to spend more time with her young family.
The championship final is set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Immaculata.
Owls boys No. 1鈥�
Ranked No. 1 all season, the KSS Owls are the favourites heading into this 飞别别办鈥檚 B.C. AAA boys volleyball finals in Langley.
Mike 厂辞诲补谤辞鈥檚 Owls open power pool play today with the next three highest 蝉别别诲蝉鈥擵补苍 Tech, Semiamhoo and Walnut Grove.
KSS won the silver medal in both 2013 and 2014.
The Mt. Boucherie Bears are ranked sixth and will play in a pool with Dover Bay, Reynolds and Seaquam.
The final goes Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Langley Events Centre.
Meanwhile, the George Elliott Coyotes are ranked fifth in the AA competition, also being contested in Langley.
KSS girls at 叠颁蝉鈥�
The 麻豆精选 Owls are ranked No. 6 heading into the B.C. 4A girls championship beginning Thursday at Handsworth and West Vancouver Secondary.
The Okanagan Valley champion Owls are grouped in a pool with South Delta, West Vancouver and Lord Tweedsmuir.
The gold medal final will be played Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Handsworth.
OKM hosts AAA girls鈥�
The Okanagan Mission Huskies are playing host to the B.C. AAA girls provincial championship beginning Thursday.
OKM is in a power pool with Brooks, Crofton House and Clayton Heights.
Vernon Seaton is the top-ranked team from the Okanagan.
The gold medal match is set for 4:45 p.m. on Saturday.
