AAA Quarter Final Results
LANGLEY- By Al Shill
Earl Marriott vs Riverside in the quarterfinal. Photo by Vancouver Sports Pictures.
Earl Marriott continued their winning ways to start Friday beating a hard working Riverside Team (25-17, 25-17, 25-17). Riverside brought a strong effort- but in the end were no match for an experienced Earl Marriott team who are trying to repeat as AAA Champions. Setter Josh Quiring spread Marriott’s offence throughout the match leading a balanced attack with hitters Ryan Brown, Talon McMillan and Ben Francois.
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OKM coach Paul Thiessen cheering his team on during the AAA play-offs.
The match of the morning however, belonged to Oak Bay and Kelowna’s Okanagan Mission. The young OKM squad with only one gr. 12 got off to a slow start losing (17-25). Coach Paul Thiessen felt
“we started to assert ourselves by the end of game one.”
Game two was different story has got out to an early lead and never looked back.
“All year long when we’ve been in front we’ve rarely been beaten,” added Thiessen.
OKM know they’re now up against a strong Earl Marriott squad but coach Thiessen says he’s hoping the play of his young squad can “build some confidence” and “take a game.”
The moment OKM wins in an upset against Oak bay. (Vancouver Sports Pictures)
Claremont’s Nik Babaeff in the middle hitting inside of 3 meters.
Eric Hamber’s Alex Keng – ready to dig.
AA Quarter Final Results from Thursday night
LCS LEFT SIDE Jonas Van Huizen
LANGLEY CHRISTIAN vs PACIFIC ACADEMY- Langley Christian was firing on all cylinders as they made quick work of Pacific Academy 3-0. Langley Christian was feeling loose and swinging freely as they crushed balls all match from everywhere. According to LCS coach, Brynden MacTavish the team passed lights out and had a 73% sideout percentage. According to Jonas Van Huizen, LCS’s left side,
“We were just better than them and I thought our setter Tyson Hofer spread the offense out and played great tonight. I was smashing balls all night.”
Pacific Academy’s Juhan Park (4) beats the LCS block for a score.
MEI setter Micah Bucknam
MEI vs SURREY CHRISTIAN- seemed to be a better match up in theory- however- perhaps the earlier 5 set match that Surrey won earlier in the day was a factor- as Surrey couldn’t muster the energy from earlier in the day. MEI took the set 3-0 and won in just over an hour. MEI’s grade 11 setter, Micah Bucknam commented,
“Our team is playing well. Everything is clicking at the moment. We have bought into a mentality that we won’t take anything for granted and we will just want it more than the other team.”
MEI setter Micah Bucknam setting a sweet ball.
ACS captain Josh Apperloo
ABBOTSFORD CHRISTIAN and PACIFIC CHRISTIAN – this was an exciting match with both sides battling tough and exchanging some fantastic rallies. Abbotsford just got stronger and more confident as the match progressed and Pacific Christian couldn’t respond with the same consistent power. Abbotsford wins 3-0. Left side hitter Josh Apperloo said,
“Before the match we were all hyped and we were just excited to play in front of a good crowd. We stayed all game at a high energy level and played well.”
ACS’s Josh Apperloo rushes to push a ball through the Pacific Christian block.
GEORGE ELLIOT vs COLLEGE HEIGHTS- there was some really hard hitting in this match by both sides. George Elliot wins 3-1 but that is to include that Roan McCarthy may have played one of his best matches of the year with 25 kills and only 2 errors. He had an 80% kill rate. George Elliot coach Chris Frehlick, said,
“They (College Heights) were hitting really hard. Roan just played lights out!”
GESS’s Jordan Barker finding a kill from the right side.
