The Walnut Grove Gators overcame their nerves to knock off the Langley Christian Lightning and capture the district title.
The two Grade 8 boys volleyball teams — the top two seeds during the regular season with Langley Christian ranked higher — met in the district championship game on Tuesday (Nov. 15) at the Langley Events Centre.
The Lightning won the first and fourth sets — 26-24 and 25-18 — while Walnut Grove took sets two and four — 25-18 and 25-20 — to set up a fifth and deciding set.
“It was two good teams going at it,” said Walnut Grove coach Terry Stead.
“We didn’t play our best volleyball; we just found a way to win.”
The victory qualifies the Gators for the upcoming Fraser Valley championships, which will be played at Langley Christian on Nov. 25 and 26.
Langley Christian will also be in attendance at the tournament.
This was the fourth time Walnut Grove and Langley Christian matched up, including twice in the regular season.
The Lightning won the first match while the Gators won the latter, and Langley Christian was given the top seed because they won their match in one fewer sets. The third game was at a mid-season tournament with Walnut Grove prevailing.
