Morning Star Staff
Rookie power hitters Emily Dahl and Abbey Hughes combined for 28 kills as the host Fulton Maroons outlasted the George Elliot Coyotes 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-19, 25-20) in North Zone Senior AA Girls Volleyball action Tuesday night.
Veteran setter and team captain Nicole Olson delivered a solidly-run offence from all positions while recording three kills.
Kieanna Boomer-Jones and Allison Hobkirk controlled the net with three blocks apiece.
“George Elliott has two veteran power hitters who definitely did some damage on our side but with strong serving we were able to put their serve receive off and limit their attacking chances,” said Fulton coach Sharon Shaigec. “I am pleased with the solid effort and determination the girls demonstrated in the game.”
The Maroons, who visit the Pleasant Valley Saints Tuesday night in Armstrong, made the semifinals and bagged bronze in the Tier 2 Division of the 32-team Thompson Rivers University Invitational,
After stopping the AAA Caledonia Kermodes of Terrace 25-19 in Game 1, the Kermodes won 25-15 and took the deciding game 16-14.
“We really stepped up our overall level and speed of play. We had the lead in the third game but we couldn’t hold it and unfortunately our inexperience showed through in clutch plays when we couldn’t put the ball away,” said Shaigec.
The Maroons knocked off the Norkam Saints 2-1 (14-25, 25-14, 15-7) in the bronze-medal match.
“It is always tough to pull off a win after losing in the semis but all the girls showed a lot of character and rebounded to finish third in Tier 2 action. I am very proud of their work ethic and individual improvement.”
Fulton ousted the Ashcroft Golden Rams 25-8, 25-11 in the quarterfinals after losing to AAAA schools Pen High Lakers and Prince George Polar Bears while bouncing the Barriere Cougars in pool play.
The Vernon Christian School Royals took the Tier 3 girls title at the TRU tournament, dispatching the Clearwater Raiders 25-17, 25-18 in the final.
Rachel Kroeker compiled four aces and four kills for the Royals, while Hannah Christensen chipped in with one ace and four kills. The Royals entered the classic with their first-ever provincial senior A girls ranking at No. 10.
The Royals defeated Summerland 25-18, 26-24 in the semis and iced Princeton 26-24, 25-14 in the quarterfinals.
In pool play the Royals faced some stiff competition from much larger schools, losing 2-0 to Mt. Boucherie Bears (15-25, 11-25), Valleyview Vikings (14-25, 16-25) and Kelly Road Roadrunners oif Prince George (18-25, 14-25).
“It was good to play a higher calibre team and work on different aspects of the game,” said Vernon Christian coach Jason Reedyk. “It will help us as we press on to try to earn a provincial berth at the end of the season.”
The Royals were relegated to the Tier 3 playoffs where they faced similar sized schools.
Vernon Christian won three matches in exhibition league action Tuesday night, stopping the Eagle River Talons of Sicamous 25-20, 25-18 with Claire Oordt-Bosman supplying six kills and Rebecca VanderDeen pounding five aces and six kills.
The Royals then defeated the host A.L. Fortune Falcons of Enderby 25-18, 25-9. Rightside hitter Chantal Vandeburgt rang up three aces.
Vernon used a strong attack to hold off the Charles Bloom Timberwolves of Lumby 25-18, 25-17.
“It was a good start to league play,” said Reedyk. “We know that everyone always plays at a much higher level by the end of the season, so it was exciting to see how good the play was this early in the season.”
In other action Charles Bloom and Eagle River defeated AL Fortune in straight sets, while Charles Bloom outlasted Eagle River in three sets.
The Revelstoke Rams iced the host Vernon Christian Royals in a tight five-set match in senior boys play.
The Fulton senior boys swept the Kalamalka Lakers 3-0 (25-12, 25-10, 25-16) in North Zone play Tuesday night.
The Maroons are ranked No. 1 in the provincial AA poll.
Richard Bedard is Fulton’s head coach.
