While first place is always the goal, a second-place showing is not too shabby, considering the circumstances.
That is the situation the Langley Christian Lighting senior girls find themselves in.
“Realistically, we are definitely happy with second in the Fraser Valley,” said Lightning coach Lisa Bontkes.
“Pacific Academy, I think they have lost one game all season.”
Pacific Academy — which also hosted Fraser Valleys — defeated Langley Christian in the gold medal game of the Fraser Valley 2A senior girls volleyball championships last week.
The Breakers won three sets to none.
“We definitely came out of the gate really slow,” Bontkes said.
The Lightning — which fell to 0-4 against Pacific Academy this season — had their best shot at winning a set in the third, but lost 31-29.
Langley Christian advanced to the finals after beating the MEI Eagles in five sets the night before.
The Lightning were seeded third for the Valleys and after beating No. 6 Southridge in the quarter-finals, they upset No. 2 MEI in a five-set semifinal victory.
Bontkes coached the team at the junior level last year as Langley Christian won the provincial title.
This is the Lightning’s first year at the 2A level after the school’s enrollment numbers went up, prompting the move from 1A.
The team will play at the provincial championships Dec. 3 to 5 at George Elliot Secondary in Lake Country.
Langley Fundamental was also competing at Fraser Valleys, losing to Southridge in the sixth/seventh place game.
The Titans were seeded seventh coming in.
