The Ballenas Senior Girls Volleyball team has advanced to the B.C. AAA Girls Volleyball Championships for the third season in a row. Playing at the Island Championships in Campbell River on the weekend the team advanced by finishing third among the eight teams competing.
“The Island is always a powerhouse in girls volleyball,” said coach John Philips. “This season Timberline (Campbell River) has been ranked number one all season in AAA Girls volleyball. NDSS (Nanaimo) has been ranked as high as fourth. Ballenas has hovered around the eighth provincial ranking all season.”
“Our goal was to make it to the B.C.s,” Philips said. “I think the girls had another goal of beating NDSS. We were able to do it last weekend at the North Island Championships. They are a very good team, with one player who is almost unbeatable. We feel we have a better group of players and have a better team. It was close.”
In the semi final Ballenas and NDSS face off against one another. In a very well played match, the Whalers lost 22-25, 25-17, 23-25, 25-20, 9-15.
“We played very, very well. I would have to say that it was the best performance of the season. Unfortunately, in the fifth set, NDSS got ahead early and in the 15 point game there isn’t much time to recover.”
In the bronze medal game Ballenas beat SMUS (Victoria) 24-26, 25-12, 25-12, 25-17.
Grade 12 middle blocker, Shae Peachey was named to the All-Star team. “Shea was leading our team in kills, blocks, aces and was solid on defense. She had a great tournament.”
The Ballenas Whalers senior volleyball team will be traveling to Seaquam Secondary in Delta for the provincial tournament. November 28-30.
— NEWS Staff/BSS