The Langley Christian Lightning may not have won the gold medal, but they did win the respect of the spectators.
“I had seven different people — people I didn’t know — come up to me afterwards and say they appreciated (how we carried ourselves),” said Langley Christian coach Mary-Joan Visscher.
“To be able to display that sportsmanship, even when you are facing adversity, I think that means more to me.
“As much as the material thing about winning the banner, I think the more important thing is having people approach us afterwards.”
The Lightning were competing at the senior girls’ Single-A provincial volleyball championships over the weekend at Kelowna’s Immaculata Regional High School.
And Langley Christian faced the host Mustangs in Saturday’s final, with Immaculata winning 3-2 in five sets.
Langley Christian was up 2-1 in the best-of-five final but dropped a back-and-forth fourth set.
And the Mustangs used the momentum of staying alive to win the decisive fifth set.
“It was an amazing effort,” Visscher said.
“It went five sets and that is all you can ask for as a coach.”
The coach said she felt disappointed for their graduating seniors.
“You really want it for them,” she said. “There is always that sadness, but they walked out of their with their heads held high.”
After winning their pool, Langley Christian defeated Aberdeen Hall in the round of 16 and Highroad Academy in the quarter-finals.
They then beat Mount Sentinel in the semifinals.
Looking back at the season, Visscher said she is extremely proud of her team.
“It was an amazing season; these girls came together when they needed to and they should be proud of this,” she said.
Lightning captain Emma Kastelein was named a first team all-star while Ali Wergelend and Morgan Hindy were selected second team all-stars.
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The Langley Christian Lightning senior boys’ volleyball team finished seventh at the B.C. provincial Double-A championships, which were held over the weekend at the Langley Events Centre.
After winning their pool, Langley Christian beat WL Seaton in the round of 16, but lost to Woodlands in the quarter-finals.
They lost to DP Todd in their next match, but defeated College Heights in the seventh-place game.
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Credo Christian’s Chris Snijder earned first team all-star honours as the Kodiaks placed fourth at the B.C. senior boys Single-A provincial volleyball championships.
The tournament was held at Abbotsford Christian over the weekend.
The Kodiaks lost 3-2 (22-25, 25-15, 24-26, 26-24, 15-13) to Vernon Christian in the bronze medal match.
