It took until the final match of the season — and an extra two days after power was knocked out on Saturday night — but the Langley Christian Lightning finally defeated the MEI Eagles.
And it could not have come at a better time as the Lightning prevailed over the Eagles on Monday night in the Grade 8 girls’ volleyball Fraser Valley championship game.
The game was played at Langley Christian after the initial location for the Fraser Valley tournament — North Delta’s Sands Secondary — lost power on Saturday.
“Winning Fraser Valleys is always the goal at the end of the season,” said Anna Stockton, who coaches the Lightning with Lisa Bontkes.
“These girls worked hard and proved how much they wanted it.”
“Fraser Valley’s were always in the back of our minds, but we always tell the girls to focus on the present and take it one game at a time.”
The Lightning and Eagles also played during the round robin portion of the Fraser Valley championships, with MEI getting the victory in the two-set match. Both teams won a set, but the Eagles were awarded the victory based on a greater point differential in the two sets.
That placed Langley Christian second in their pool and gave them a semifinal date with Earl Marriott, who had won their pool. And after dropping the first set, the Lightning won the final two sets to advance.
Again the Lightning would drop the first set, but win the remaining two to earn the banner.
“As coaches, we are very proud of the progress our team has made throughout the season,” Stockton said. “They not only increased in their level of play and skill set, but also in their ability to stay mentally strong.”
Langley Christian placed a trio of players on the Fraser Valley all-star team.
Setter Olivia Heinen was named most valuable player while libero Emma Hansen and middle Morgan Hindy were chosen all-stars.