Sometimes a loss can be more valuable than a victory.
That very well could be the case for the Langley Christian Lightning when they look back on their season.
The Grade 8 boys volleyball team has just one loss on the season — it came last month to Langley rival Credo Christian at a tournament on Vancouver Island — but since then, seems to have steered back on course.
And on Nov. 5, the Lightning overpowered the Langley Fundamental Titans in straight sets 3-0 (25-21,25-9,25-13) to capture the Langley Grade 8 boys district volleyball title.
The championship game was played at the Langley Events Centre Fieldhouse.
It was the school’s first Grade 8 boys district title since 2008 and it gave Langley Christian a sweep at the Grade 8 level.
“That was a hard-felt, hurting loss, but that loss did play into our season,” admitted Langley Christian coach Marie Grim.
“Sometimes it is good to lose.
“It was just a friendly little reminder that we didn’t want to feel that (way) again for awhile.”
The loss is the lone blemish on the Lightning’s season so far.
The team went undefeated in district play and advanced to the championship final. They also won their own tournament back in October and then came third in their other tournament. Altogether, the team sports a tidy 19-1 mark.
Grim said that as a coach of a team playing well, it can be hard sometimes to motivate a team which is firing on all cylinders.
“(That loss) was pivotal,” she said.
“It made the boys realize how hard they had to work to get to where they want to be.”
Up next comes the Fraser Valley championships, which will be held Nov. 15 and 16 at Mission’s Hatzic Secondary.
“This team is a very determined group,” Grim said.
“And they are hard working in practice — I can push them pretty hard and they respond to that.”
Their best attributes are a strong serve as well as big blocking presence as the Lightning boast some height in the middle.
