Kelowna’s Tessa Neil and partner Darby Dunn made it on to the podium at the Volleyball Canada Beach Nationals in Parksville.
Neil and Dunn won eight of 10 matches to earn the silver medal last weekend in the U18 girls division.
The only matches the Surrey-based duo lost were both to Alberta, including in the gold medal final.
On opening day, Neil and Dunn won three of four matches, then followed up by going 3-0 on Saturday to finish the power pool at 7-1.
In Sunday’s quarterfinal, they made short work of Langley’s Klassen/Crema duo by scores of 21-13 and 21-6. In the semis, a tougher match saw them take down Surrey’s Stausgaard and Wagner 21-17 and 21-18.
In the close final against Pexman/Hill from Calgary, Neil and Dunn came out the stronger team and won the first set 2-17. But Alberta rebounded with a 21-15 win in the second to force a deciding set. Neil and Dunn led the third set 13-11, but couldn’t secure the win as Alberta scored the last four points for a 15-13 victory and the gold medal.
This spring, Neil, who attended KSS and played for the Junior Heat squad, was named the MVP at the provincial U17 championship in Abbotsford, as the Heat won gold.
