Volleyball was on the agenda at Langford’s newest school.
The junior girls’ volleyball team kicked off their first tournament ever at the brand new Belmont secondary school on Oct. 15 and 16. The team took top spot at home, cruising to a 6-0 record over the course of the two-day tournament in the Island’s newest gymnasium.
“I was proud that all (players) contributed... (And) I loved the fact we were able to showcase the school and showcase the gym, when kids walked in their jaws dropped,” said junior coach Ken Lowe. “Every team that left said they wanted to come back next year.”
It wasn’t only the facilities that impressed, Belmont Blue cruised through 12 consecutive sets en route to their undefeated weekend, defeating Royal Bay, Victoria High and Nanaimo District to claim top spot in pool play. The Blue side capped off their weekend with victories over Oak Bay in the quarterfinals, Claremont in the semifinals, before defeating Timberline in the final to sweep all sets, of all their games.
Olivia Godek was named MVP while Hannah May and Taylee Pomponio were named to the all-star teams. However Lowe said that it wasn’t just the play on the court he was most impressed with.
“I had countless coaches come to me and tell me how well our Belmont girls behaved and were officials when they weren’t playing,” he said. “To me that is more important to being a skill player, that they were good citizens throughout the tournament.”
Belmont White was happy to win their last game, getting a healthy does of experience and taking 15th spot out of the 16 teams on home court before both squads hit the road this weekend for a tournament at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo. Colwood’s Royal Bay school finished 12th in the tournament.
The senior girls volleyball team, lead by head coach Mike Toakley, also impressed over the same weekend, taking victories over Pacific Christian, Archbishop Carney of Coquitlam and Nanaimo’s Woodlands in pool play at the Brentwood College Classic Tournament.
The home team proved to be too much for them in the semi-finals, where they fell before taking out Parksville’s Ballenas on Saturday for a second consecutive time to secure the bronze medal on the strength of power hitters Kendra Hobenshield, Jess Thomsen, and setter Kirsten Barry’s strong performances.
alim@goldstreamgazette.com