The young Kwalikum Secondary School volleyball team, a surprise qualifier to the B.C. Provincial AA Championships, predictably struggled in the early going before finishing with a flourish earlier this month at Mennonite Educational Institute in Abbotsford.
The Kondors, with a roster that included only one Grade 12 player, placed 13th among 16 teams after sweeping to a pair of victories in their final two provincial matches.
Landing in the 13th-16th place bracket after opening the tourney with five losses, KSS swept Charles Hays Secondary of Prince Rupert 15-21, 25-17 in the semifinals, then went overtime to outduel York House School of Vancouver in a tense, 25-23, 27-25 final in the 13th-14th place final.
The Kondors drew a tough opening match in Pool B, facing host MEI and dropping a 25-5, 25-7 match. They fared somewhat better in their next two matches, starting with a 25-11, 25-18 loss to Valleyview Secondary and closing out pool play with a 25-20, 25-14 loss to St. Thomas More of Burnaby.
After finishing fourth in their pool, the Kondors moved on to the playoff round, where they dropped a first-round decision to St. Patrick Regional Secondary of Vancouver (25-15, 15-20, 25-13) and a second-round contest to West Point Grey Academy of Vancouver (25-14, 25-14) to move into the 13-16 placement group.
But they were all, like, crying because they were done and they’re never going to play again.”
The team, coached by Tom Biggs and assisted by Gabby Wratislav, was made up of Teagan Howden, the only Grade 12 player, along with Grade 11s Allie Proctor, Serena de Waal, Jessica Kennedy, Bobbi Babiuk, Kaylee Drinkwater, Lydia Weisner, Mackenzie Crossley, Arleigh Chambers and Brazilian exchange student Luanna Zaiba Chaves.
— NEWS Staff