Step one is done.
“As coaches, we would have been disappointed if our girls didn’t play to their potential, admitted Cari Gonzalez, who coaches the Langley Christian Lightning grade 8 girls volleyball team.
“But fortunately they came out ready to play and swinging hard.”
The Lightning held on to to beat the Langley Fundamental Titans 3-1 in the championship game on Nov. 5 at the Langley Events Centre.
Langley Christian had won the first two sets, 25-20 and 25-19.
But the plucky Titans battled back to stay alive with a 25-21 victory in the third set.
The fourth set was back and forth, but the Lightning prevailed in the end 25-21.
“It was a toss-up, both teams played well,” Gonzalez said.
The teams had played two other times during the season, with each winning once.
The Lightning were the top seed in the district after going undefeated in league play at 8-0. The Titans were second with a 7-1 record/
“Our goal this season was to come together as a team,” added coach Anna Stockton.
“This is a fun, energetic group of girls.”
The coaches credited the play of Corina Beimers and Hannah Miller.
Miller is the team’s vocal leader who brings energy to the court while Biemers, the setter, quarterbacks the team’s attack.
The Lightning did not win any of the tournaments they entered but did manage a couple of second and third-place finishes.
Now comes the big test: the Fraser Valley championships.
“If the girls stay focused and disciplined, we are excited to see what will happen at the Fraser Valleys,” Gonzalez said.
Both Langley Christian and Langley Fundamental have qualified for the Fraser Valley championships, which are Nov. 15 and Nov. 16 at Abbotsford’s MEI Secondary.