By Bob Carter
Fulton Maroons power hitter Danny Aspenlieder (7) smashes the ball past the double block from Langley Christian School at the Best of the West volleyball tournament in Kelowna.— image credit: Photo submitted
Clarence Fulton opened a few eyes by winning the 40-team UBC Invitational in late September, besting a field that included ranked teams Kelowna, Langley Christian, Earl Marriott, Moscrop and Langley Fundamental. The Maroons, taking the title for the first time, may have surprised even themselves.
“We definitely exceeded our expectations at UBC,” Fulton coach Richard Bedard said last week. “We were shooting for top eight and ended up winning the whole thing.”
Fulton, ranked second in AA, didn’t stop there. The Maroons tied for third at the MEI Invitational after losing a tight three-set semifinal to Mount Boucherie and again finished in a third-place tie at the 40-team Best of the West in Kelowna. They lost another close semi there, falling to Jasper Place, the third-ranked 4A team in Alberta. This past weekend they won the Thompson Rivers tournament in Kamloops, defeating highly ranked St. Paul’s of Winnipeg.
“For each of the tournaments,” Bedard said, “the team set goals of achieving a particular finish and have fortunately been able to either meet or exceed the goal.”
The biggest goal, of course, will be finishing high in the Big Kahuna BC Volleyball Championships Dec. 2-5 at the Langley Events Centre. Fulton finished runner-up to MEI in last year’s AA tournament. Bedard said defence and passing have kept the team competitive. “Since we are not a big blocking team, the boys have had to play a defensive style.”
Power Hitter – Daniel Aspenlieder
Danny Aspenlieder, a first-team all-star at last year’s BC’s, is Fulton’s go-to performer. A provincial team player, the 6-6 Aspenlieder played middle the last two seasons for the Maroons but is even more dangerous this year. “Danny now finds himself on the left side where we can utilize his big hit and block,” Bedard said. “He has improved immensely from last season due to club and his stint on the provincial team this past summer.” Aspenlieder is one of four returnees for Fulton, along with Ryan Doerges (first-team all-star at the 2014 provincials), Jordy Barr and setter Bryn Bedard, Richard’s son. New members include Grade 11s Landon Currie, Christian Harpe and Kieran Webster. Barr, the coach said, “has made the transition from libero and bench sub to being one of our best passers and blockers. I’ve also been impressed with his hitting and serving.” Bryn Bedard (honourable mention at the BC’s) has also shifted on the floor, now setting from the middle. “This was out of necessity,” the coach said, “since we have only one middle (Harpe), who has come a long way since the beginning of the season.”
Currie has provided a big boost on the right side. “A strong defensive and offensive player who can do it all,” Bedard said. And Doerges, he said, is a “passing and defensive guru with a wicked hitting arm.” All in all, it’s a team not only meeting goals but gaining confidence and winning respect around the province.
