Fresh off a gold-medal showing at the UBC Okanagan Heat junior boys volleyball tournament, the Fulton Maroons struck silver at the KSS Best of the West tourney last weekend in Kelowna.
The Maroons fell 24-26, 19-25 to the defending B.C. champion MEI Eagles of Abbotsford in the gold-medal game Saturday.
“The boys were in tough on their side of the playoff pool,” said head coach Richard Bedard. “We’re pretty excited that we’re there with the coast teams.”
Fulton was challenged in the 23-team tournament by the Pacific Academy Breakers of Surrey, Langley Fundamental Titans and MEI, all from the Lower Mainland. In pool play, Fulton stopped the Okanagan Mission Huskies 25-19, 25-15 and Valleyview Vikings of Kamloops 25-15, 25-12 before falling 26-27, 24-26 to the Eagles.
In the final 16, the Maroons swept the George Elliot Coyotes 25-12, 25-15 and then bounced Pacific Academy 25-22, 25-19 in the quarters, followed by a 22-25, 25-21, 16-14 decision over Langley Fundamental in the semis.
Fulton got strong play from tourney all-stars Ryan Doerges and Danny Aspenlieder, effective offensive distribution from Bryn Bedard, and great digging and passing from offside Landon Currie. With libero Jordy Barr absent, Noah Alleyne and Kobe Romanovitch stepped up their game in the back row.
In senior AA girls league play, the Maroons stuffed George Elliot 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-9)Tuesday night at Fulton gym.
Nazarena Wurz recorded 13 kills while Alexa Lewis aced three serves on a seven-point run.
The Maroons host the Revelstoke Rams Tuesday (5:30 p.m.) before entering the 30-team KSS Best of the West Tournament in Kelowna starting next Friday.
In senior boys league play Tuesday night, the Vernon Panthers outlasted the Seaton Sonics 27-25, 25-17 at the Panther Pit.
Both teams started strong, going point for point for much of the first set. Shelby Hartwig, Brayden Damini and Landon Mattes were constant threats up front for Vernon. Jason Reich was solid and Nolan Weins was stellar with his sets and saves.
The Cats then fell 25-20, 25-18, 15-9 to Okanagan Mission in exhibition action.
VSS juniors Carson Lebreque, Sean Morgan, and Eric Embleton stepped up to help the senior crew.
