BCSS 2017 Boys AA and AAA Volleyball Championships

Boys AA Champions: Langley Christian School

Boys AAA Champions: Semiahmoo Secondary School

Semiahmoo Goes Back-to-Back in AAA Boys Volleyball

Posted on Dec 2, 2017 in Press Release

It’s a game people are going to talk about for a while.

The Semiahmoo Secondary School Totems jumped out to a two sets to none lead on the Mt. Baker Secondary School Wild, only to watch the Wild claw themselves back into the match, taking the Totems to the limit in a nail-biting, 25-21, 25-22, 25-18, 12-25, 15-12 win.

“I did not let them off the floor,” said Totems head coach Michael Sapic as he explained how he handled his team heading into the deciding fifth set after dropping sets three and four.

And after that, Sapic began screaming encouraging word to his team, saying that the two sets they just lost didn’t matter anymore.

“I was trying to bring their emotions back up,” Sapic smiled as he celebrated with his team. “I said look, at the beginning of the season you thought we’d be in a fifth set for a Provincial Final, I think you’d be pretty happy with that, so let’s go and take it.”

The inspiring speech changed the Totems mood immediately, as they fired on all cylinders in the final set.

The play of Grade 11 setter, Jag Gill came around in that set, and he was lights out setting tournament MVP, Mike Dowhaniuk.

“He was lofting the ball a bit too high to Mike and he likes a faster ball, and so they were able to load up their blockers on Mike,” Explained Sapic as he talked about his setter that had only played the position for a mere three months. “But I think he adapted and by the fifth set they were faster.”

Dowhaniuk was just as complimentary about Gill’s play in the final set.

“When it came right down to it he really stepped up,” Dowhaniuk said. “I think he stepped into a big role for us and it was great having him all year to set me.”

After the win, Dowhaniuk said both championships are moments he’ll cherish for the rest of his life. A feeling that is shared with Grade 12 teammate, and First-Team All Star, Braxton Campbell.

“It’s an indescribable feeling, definitely better than last year,” Campbell said grinning ear-to-ear.

It’s unfortunate that in a Gold Medal game as good as this, someone need to go home with the Silver Medal. Still, with that in mind, Wild head coach Karley Ferner is proud of her team’s efforts in adding third Silver Medal to her school’s collection.

When the Wild were trailing two sets to none, Ferner modestly said she just never stopped cheering, believing in them and reminding them that the next point is theirs.

“I try to get them to rally each other instead of me trying to rally them, because they work the best when they’re building each other up.”

After the match, she called the second place finish bitter sweet. Sure they are happy to be returning home with a medal after an 11^th place finish last year, but the loss still stings.

Earl Marriott captured the Bronze Medal, 25-22, 23-25, 25-13, 25-21 over Seaquam

Lightning Strikes For a Third Time

Posted on Dec 3, 2017 in Press Release

They say lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice.

Well they couldn’t be more wrong in Langley, as lightning has not just struck once, or twice, but three times for eight members of the Langley Christian Lightning.

On Saturday night, in front of a loud and rowdy crowd, the Lighting dispatched a young and overmatched Abbotsford Christian Knights squad in three sets, 25-17, 25-15, 25-22 to capture a third provincial crown – Junior Boys in 2015 and AA Senior Boys in 2016.

“This is the best match we’ve played in the whole tournament,” said Lightning head coach Carol Hofer, who has coached the team to all three provincial crowns. “We got better every match and Matthias Dahl played his best match of his season, and was awesome, Caleb Kastelein stepped up…and hit some amazing balls, and Caleb Schnitzer, our setter, made great decisions.”

Before the match Hofer spoke to her team about belief and how she believed this group could be champions again.

“I told them that I believed we could be champions today and that we needed to get out there and do the work,” Hofer said. “We’ve focused all season long about what we know we’re capable of and really, we hardly ever focus on our opponents.”

Leading the way for the Lightning during their best game of the season was Hofer’s son Brodie, who won his second straight tournament MVP after unleashing a flurry of violent spikes on the Knight’s defenders.

“It’s (the multiple MVP awards) nice to have, but having three banners in a row with a team of guys that I’ve been going to school with every day and that I see all the time and are my best friends, coming home with those, tops the MVPs,” said Brodie in front of a packed house that remained to celebrate the win with the Lightning.

Brodie also acknowledge the crowd that was loud and cheered on every point for both teams, and of course his teammates, who were there all season long for him.

“They (his teammates) were fantastic,” Brodie said. “Every guy had something to bring to the table, weather they were on the bench hyping us up or they were serving or setting the ball.”

One such teammate that was particular awesome all tournament was Grade 12 libero, Matthias Dahl, who was named the tournament’s top libero.

“We worked so hard,” Dahl said as he looked pleasantly stunned in disbelief at what his team had accomplished. “I’m so excited, but at the same time I’m sad it’s over, because I love playing with this group of guys.”

And while one group of Grade 12s says good bye to high school volleyball, across the court a very talented group of Grade 11s has aspirations that maybe next season will be their year.

Abbotsford Christian will have more than half their roster returning next season including Canadian National 16U player and tournament first team all star, Cole Brandsma.

“I’m very excited about next year,” said Knight’s head coach Anthony Janzen as he smiled proudly about all his team had accomplished over the past year, reminding people that they weren’t even in this tournament a year ago.  “I think we’ve set the ground work this year for some great things next year, so I’m very excited for next year.”

The Bronze Medal was won by Duchess Park Secondary School Condors as they beat their cross town rivals, the College Heights Secondary School Cougars, 25-11, 25-22 and 25-14.