#1- Ryan Christian and #5-Andrew Gamble both dive for the ball in the game against Walnut Grove. [Photo credits to Paul Yates]
By Bob Carter
Fraser Heights’ loss in its zone final may come back to bite AAA teams in this week’s Big Kahuna BC Volleyball Championships at the Langley Events Centre.
The Firehawks lost a tough five-setter to Walnut Grove (18-16 in the fifth) in the Fraser Valley final after taking the first two sets.
They opened Pool F play in the BC’s on Wednesday by beating Van Tech in three sets and Walnut Grove in two.
“It made the boys hungry, being so close to winning the Fraser Valleys,” coach James Ahn said. “We’ve been having some good practices.”
Ahn said his team was a little inconsistent after Chase Wood, a regular right side starter, rolled his ankle in practice. Wood played part-time on Wednesday and provided a spark.
“I put him in the back row and it seemed to stabilize us,” Ahn said.
He noted that first-year setter Aarshdeep Masson and middle Shaan Sidhu, who is playing his first year of volleyball, have been solid contributors.
Oak Bay also got off to a good start in Pool F, defeating Walnut Grove and Van Tech, and was to play Fraser Heights in its final pool match.
In the top pool (E) in AAA, three of the first four matches went to three sets. Top-ranked Kelowna beat Okanagan rival Mount Boucherie in three sets and No. 2 Dover Bay won twice in three, edging Moscrop and Boucherie. Moscrop rebounded to beat Kelowna in two.
In Pool G, defending champ Earl Marriott started with a 25-22, 25-16 victory over Penticton.
In Pool H, Delta defeated Mount Baker in two, and Reynolds opened with a two-set win over McMath.
In Pool K, Prince George bear Belmont in two, and Riverside edged North Peace 17-15 in the third set.
