The Vernon Christian School Royals were headed to the quarterfinals late Thursday afternoon at the B.C. Senior A Boys Volleyball Championships in Kelowna.
Chris Bannick’s seventh-rated bunch faced the No. 2 Credo Christian of Langley after brushing off 11th-ranked Carver Christian Phoenix of Burnaby 3-1 (25-19, 19-25, 31-29, 29-27) in a thriller earlier Thursday afternoon.
In pool play, the fifth-ranked Duncan Christian Chargers iced the Royals 2-0 (25-14, 25-22), while the No. 6 Centennial Christian Seahawks of Terrace stopped them 2-1 (22-25, 25-22, 16-14) before the Royals rebounded to upend the No. 8 Richmond Christian Eagles 2-1 (25-19, 22-25, 15-12).
There is a field of 12 teams with the host Kelowna Christian Knights ranked No. 1.
The Fulton Maroons and VSS Panthers were both battling on the consolation side of the provincial senior AA boys draw Thursday afternoon in Kelowna.
Fulton, ranked 12th in the field of 16, lost 3-0 (25-22, 25-12, 25-18) to No. 6 Langley Fundamental Titans in Thursday morning play.
“The boys fought back and almost had that first game, but they really didn’t have their best showing this morning,” said Fulton coach Dan Currie.
The Maroons went into the playdowns without middle blocker Erich Lutzke (injured) and had just one substitute.
Fulton stopped No. 10 George Elliot Coyotes of Lake Country 2-1 (13-25, 29-27, 16-14) in their tournament opener Wednesday before Highland Raiders of Comox iced the Maroons 2-1 (17-25, 25-19, 15-11).
The Maroons ended pool play Wednesday by bowing 2-1 (25-27, 25-18, 12-15) to the Gulf Islands Scorpions of Ladysmith.
“We’re going to try and win the consolation side now; that’s our goal,” added Currie, whose team took on No. 15 Charles Hays Hurricanes of Prince Rupert Thursday afternoon.
The fourth-ranked Pacific Christian Pacers of Victoria shut down No. 13 VSS 3-0 (25-23, 25-14, 25-20) Thursday morning.
Germano Brunello’s Panthers started with a 2-0 (25-17, 25-19) sweep of Charles Hays and then brushed back the Cambie Crusaders of Richmond 2-1 (17-25, 19-25, 15-12).
VSS bowed 2-1 (16-25, 25-21, 9-15) to 14th-ranked Prince Charles Comets of Creston Wednesday night to finish pool action.
The Panthers went up against Highland in playoff action Thursday afternoon.
In Nanaimo, the No. 5 Kalamalka Lakers toppled No. 3 Langley Fundamental 2-0 (25-22, 25-17) Thursday in their provincial senior AA girls championships opener.
