Runners-up three times already this season, the Langley Christian Lightning broke through for the gold finally.
“This is actually quite a lovely feeling for the girls,” said Langley Christian coach Marie Grim.
“They have been on the other side three times, where they came second, so this is nice.”
The Lightning were the top team during the regular season but were put to the test in the championship game of the Langley district Grade 8 girls volleyball finals on Tuesday at the Langley Events Centre.
Langley Christian was playing Credo Christian in the finals.
And the Lightning took the first two sets, 25-16 and 25-20 but the Kodiaks battled back to stay alive with a 25-19 win in the third set. Credo Christian also led in the fourth set before the Lightning made their move and closed things out.
“For us — and I said this during one of the last timeouts — was that no matter what, you push hard for every point, that was our goal,” Grim said.
And in the latter half of that fourth set, the Lightning put it all together and were aided by a strong service game.
“Tournaments feel a little bit different than district championships, so we hadn’t really had that feel when the gym is roaring and the girls are nervous,” Grim said.
“And I think all the mistakes just came to them. It was just settling them down and doing the simple stuff and we got through that.”
“We played them before and it was not this battle,” the coach added. “Kudos to Credo, they put on a beautiful match; they played the best I have seen them play.”
Langley Christian was the top seed in their pool and then beat Brookswood in the semifinals.
Credo Christian was second in their pool during the season but then beat Langley Fundamental in the semifinals.
Both the Lightning and Kodiaks advance to next week’s Fraser Valley championships, which run Nov. 9, 10 and 12 at Seaquam Secondary.
Gary Ahuja/Langley Times
Langley Christian Lightning’s Ava Krepp (#12) rises up to try and block the shot of Credo Christian’s Carlina Dykstra while LCS’ Malia Caterina Leger (#8) and Anna Colyn (#11) provide back-up during the Grade 8 girls Langley district championship finals at Langley Events Centre on Tuesday night. The Lightning won the district title with a three sets to one victory. Both teams advance to the Fraser Valley championships next week.