Princess Margaret Mustangs junior volleyball programs showed they are teams to contend with during the Best of the West KSS tournament in Kelowna.
The Grade 9 girls finished second in their pool competing against Grade 10s. Coach Brad Klingspohn said they competed hard and are keen to improve.
“The girls now realize what the standard of junior girls volleyball is and can work hard to develop towards that,” he said.
The junior team coached by Rich Corrie and former Mustang Erin Sloan won their Grade 10 pool. The Mustangs lost 15-13 in the third game of the playoff round to Immaculata from Kelowna.
“It was one of the best matches of the tournament as both teams battled back and forth,” said Corrie.
The junior boys also won their pool and rolled through the playoffs. They played a strong opening game in the semi-finals defeating Mennonite Educational Institute 25-13. The Mustangs lost focus and took their foot off the gas. The Mustangs also ventured away from their power hitting to tipping. The Mustangs lost in three games, but they managed to bounce back and win bronze by defeating KSS 25-11 and 25-20. Maggie beat Kelowna Secondary School in pool play and again in the playoffs.
“It just goes to show you that it doesn’t matter what size of school you’re from,” said Mustangs athletic director John Buckley. “If you are a good athlete you can compete with anyone. A lot of bigger programs blow a lot of smoke at parents and students, but good players will get noticed at all levels of single A, AA and AAA B.C. school sports. We have a lot of good athletes in our school right now and it reminds me of when we were a dominating junior high school.”
Next action for the boys and girls in South Zone league games is Thursday.