By Bob Carter
College Heights. PHOTO: Paul Yates, Vancouver Sports Pictures.
Langley — Jay Guillet knew what was coming from Pacific Academy, and Thursday night he wanted his College Heights players to know, too.
“I told them to prepare for five sets,” Guillet said. “Get ready for some adversity.”
All came true Friday night when fourth-seeded College Heights knocked off No. 1 seed PA in five sets and advanced to Saturday’s AA title game in the Big Kahuna BC Volleyball Championships.
The Cougars from Prince George fell behind 8-6 in the fifth, but then surged to a 15-11 win, led by attacker Ben Shand and setter Graham Walkey, whose late sprawling dig epitomized his team’s effort.
#12, LCS prepares to block. PHOTO: Paul Yates, Vancouver Sports Pictures.
The smaller CH team overcame a great hitting performance by Nate Teasdale, who carried the Breakers in the final two sets.
“He’s an amazing player,” Guillet said. “We wanted to make him work, make it as challenging as we could.”
The Cougars will meet No. 2 seed Langley Christian in the final.
LCS beat Fraser Valley rival MEI in four sets, using its explosive front line to pull away after the teams were tied after two sets.
Carol Hofer’s Lightning won the third set 25-17, then prevailed in a tight fourth when son Brodie Hofer put them ahead for good at 23-22 with a hit off the block and Christian Christie’s kill provided the winning point.
MEI, the two-time defending champ, got another strong hitting game from Colton Loewen, but it wasn’t enough.
“We knew he would score,” coach Hofer said. “We knew we had to contain everyone else, and we did a good job of that.”
LCS has beaten PA in four of six meetings this year.
