Over four days Nov. 29 – Dec 2, NVSS Viqueens proudly hosted 15 teams, about 200 visitors, from around the province for the 2017 Girls AA Volleyball Provincials tournament. Athletes, coaches and guests were treated to a stunningly decorated Winter Wonderland banquet the evening they arrived, on Wed. Nov. 29. The tournament opened on Thurs. Nov. 30 with opening ceremonies and concluded with the Gold medal finals at 7:00 p.m. on Sat. Dec. 2, followed by the closing ceremony and medal and award presentations.
Community effort
Two courts in the Nechako Valley Secondary gym were supported by a third court at Evelyn Dickson Elementary. Fraser Lake Elementary Secondary School also loaned equipment for SD 91 facilities department, Viqueen Volleyball Parents, NVSS staff and community volunteers and sponsors all made this tournament a great success. The last time NVSS hosted provincials was 19 years ago in 1998.
Viqueens played up
Tournament Coordinator, Barb Ziler, said the Viqueens came in seeded 15th and did very well to finish in 14th place. She said, “The girls played really well. We definitely played up to the level of some of the teams.” Ziler said behalf of the Viqueens, that they are truly grateful to the community, for supporting their sport and helping show their visitors the full hospitality Vanderhoof is known for.
Lisa Bontkes, coach for the gold medal team Langley Christian Lightening. “We have not met a person in Vanderhoof who has not treated us like royalty, we’ve been absolutely amazed by the hospitality. Even in the stores… you go into the stores and everybody wants to know where you’re from and what you’re hear from and super friendly.”
Gold medal
Langley Christian Lightening girls team, who won silver last year took the gold medal as they dispatched their rivals, Burnaby’s St. Thomas More Knights, in the final game. They were presented the BC girls AA volleyball provincial banner just minutes after they heard their school were, in fact, returning home with a double banner as their boys team had just won the BC boys AA volleyball championships at the Langley Events Centre. MEI, Abbortsford’s Mennonite Educational Insitute beat Surrey’s Pacific Academy to take the bronze medal.
