By Bob Carter
Fired-up libero Noah Or sparked McRoberts’ rally. PHOTO: Paul Yates, Vancouver Sports Pictures.
Langley — Daniel Wong knew what might have ailed his McRoberts team early in Thursday’s AA game against Pacific Christian in the Big Kahuna BC Volleyball Championships.
The Strikers, he thought, hadn’t been battle-tested much in the previous few weeks.
McRoberts dropped the first two sets before rallying for a close five-set victory that pushed the team into a quarterfinal matchup against No. 1 seed Pacific Academy later in the day.
“We hadn’t had to play at 100 percent for awhile,” said Wong, whose team went 3-0 in pool play the previous day.
“Down 2-0, our backs were against the wall. We knew if we lose, we go home. So we couldn’t coast anymore.”
The Strikers started to play better defence in the third set, and got back into the match.
“We didn’t let them have many easy points,” Wong said. “When the whole back row is playing well, it gives everyone more confidence.”
Noah Or’s play at libero was significant. “He anchored the back row the last two sets,” Wong said.
The coach also said left side Jeff Lam’s hitting was critical in the fifth set, won by the Strikers 15-8.
