A third-place finish at the Fraser Valley championships helped the R.E. Mountain Eagles clinch a long-running goal.
“The goal at the start of every year — and some years it is a loftier goal than others — is to make it to the provincial championships,” said coach Gura Sidhu.
Sidhu has coached the Eagles senior girls team for the past handful of years — excluding last year — and he recalls two years ago when Mountain lost a heartbreaking fifth set to the Brookswood Bobcats, denying his team the chance to move on.
But there would be no denying the Eagles in 2015 as the team closed out the Delta Pacers in four sets in the bronze medal match of the 3A senior girls Fraser Valley championships. It is the first time they have advanced since 2005.
The four-team tournament was held last week (Nov. 18 to 20) at Clayton Heights Secondary.
Mountain was 0-3 in pool play, losing to Fraser Heights 2-1, Clayton Heights 2-0 and then Delta 2-0.
The last game was basically a tune-up for both squads as it was already determined they would square off in the bronze medal game.
Sidhu — who doubles as a drama teacher — said he had the team do a 30-minute relaxation exercise and there was a sense of calmness among the players.
On the court, Mountain raced out to a two sets to zero lead, winning 25-18 and 25-19. They lost the third set 25-19 but gained some momentum by making the score close despite at one point trailing by double digits.
And the Eagles closed things out in the fourth set with a 25-17 win.
Middle Lauren Ens earned all-star honours for Mountain.
The team now prepares for next week’s provincial championships, which will be held Dec. 2 to 5 at Vernon Secondary.