For most of the season, the Langley Christian Lightning have been able to match the White Rock Christian Academy Warriors point-for-point but — besides for a season-opening victory — that has not translated into victories.
So when the Lightning won the opening set 31-29 at the Single A Fraser Valley senior girls' volleyball match at the Langley Events Centre on Nov. 14 — the team stumbled in the following set, allowing the Warriors to win easily 25-10.
"We hadn't beat them in a long time, so I think it was a little bit of a shock," said Langley Christian coach Marie Grim.
"And then it took us a game to get and going.
"It was just a little blip to try and remember how to beat them again."
The Lightning were close in sets three and four, but ultimately lost 27-25 and 26-24 to fall in the match 3-1.
"We always know it is going to be point for point against them," Grim said.
The result was not a major surprise to to the coach.
"I thought we would finish one or two," she said.
"I knew we had to play really great technical volleyball to beat them I was really happy we had a good couple of games out there but a couple of times we fell through."
In the most recent Single A rankings, the Warriors were fifth and Langley Christian sixth.
Both have qualified for the upcoming provincial championships, which will be held Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 at Selkirk College in Castlegar.
"We have had to work hard to get there (provincials)," Grim said.
The coach said she was especially happy for the team after what happened last year.
"We were told we were going and then 24 hours later, we were told there was an error," Grim said.
"So this is very exciting for these kids to be going."
Grim said the team has done a great job of working together.
"In the last month, we are starting to see the capabilities of this team," she said,
"We haven't peaked yet; we are rising and that is kind of exciting."
Langley Christian's Sarah Kunst and Megan Hummelman both earned all-star awards. 