Full house. Nerves. The No. 2 ranked team in the province staring at them across the net. Hadn鈥檛 won their own tournament in five years.
The Vernon Christian School Royals overcame all of that Saturday above Swan Lake.
The Royals, seeded No. 5 in the B.C. 鈥楢鈥� high school boys volleyball rankings entering the weekend, defeated the Cedars Christian Eagles of Prince George 25-13, 27-25 to win their own Tri Lakes Invitational tournament, which featured five teams.
鈥淭his team is upbeat and never quits, fighting for every point,鈥� said Royals head coach Chris Bannick. 鈥淲e have real great team chemistry and a hungry team that wants to get better every practice, every game. I am very proud of their performance this weekend.鈥�
The Royals came out determined in the finals against the Eagles, and took the first set 25-13. The northern visitors responded in the second set by taking leads of 16-8, and 23-18 at the time outs, but the Royals fought hard and rallied to eliminate the Eagles, taking the set 27-25.
Right side player Jack Johnson led the VCS offense with nine kills and two blocks. Outside hitters Ben Tishenko had eight kills and a service ace, while Cash Riemersma chipped in with five kills and an ace.
Playing in the middle, Hayden Sayer had four blocks, an ace, and three digs, while Skylar Donnelly had two blocks, a service ace, and a set assist. Ethan Veenendaal played well as the libero, passing well on serve receive, and chipping in with six digs. Team setter Tristan Thompson was solid with his performance, raking up 22 assists, to go along with two service aces.
Owen Ranger provided a kill and a block and Jacob Leyenhorst also had a block. Sean Battersby was solid from the service line all weekend, coming into sets to help seal victories.
In the five-team pool play, the Royals placed second by defeating the 麻豆精选 Christian Knights 2-1, the Revelstoke Avalanche 2-0, and the Immaculata Mustangs of 麻豆精选 2-0, then losing to Cedars 2-0.
In the semifinals against 麻豆精选 Christian, the Royals were a bit nervous playing in front of a full, and boisterous gym, losing the first set to the Knights 23-25, but stormed back to take the match 25-12, 15-10.
League play begins on Tuesday with the Royals travelling to Lake Country to take on the George Elliot Coyotes. Next tournament action will be in the Best of the West at 麻豆精选, Oct. 13-14.
