SSNS 2022 DIVISION 1 & 2 VARSITY VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

SSNS 2022 Volleyball Championship

Participants

Historic first: LHS Dragons capture provincial girls volleyball title

By Pat Healey

FALL RIVER: For  many on the Lockview High girls volleyball team, the provincial championship won Saturday on home court was the culmination of four and five years of playing together.

Sine Grade 7 and 8 at Georges P. Vanier Junior High, many of the girls began playing together as a  team and that continued when they moved on to Lockview High.

That familiarity appeared to be a benefit for the girls as they went 3-0 in round robin play at the School Sport Nova Scotia provincial championship, hosted by Lockview at the Fall River school and at Halifax West.

Lockview High won the gold medal in straight sets 25-21 and 25-22.

It’s the first-ever girls provincial volleyball banner for the school.

Co-captain Camryn Giddens agreed playing together since GPV days helped.

“Growing together with a lot of the girls back when we played for GPV (which was my first ever volleyball team) is really special,” Giddens told The Laker News. “It’s fascinating to compare some of us seniors from grade 7 & 8 to our current selves.”

The Dragons took the championship final over a game CEC squad—one that both Giddens and fellow co-captain Leah Weatherhead gave a tip of the hat too for pushing them to be on their A game, with Weatherhead saying there was no other team she would have wanted to play in the final but CEC.

Weatherhead said being proud of the team is an understatement.

“Every single player and coach on the team had the shared goal to win a provincial championship,” she said. “We have stayed strong through the whole season even when we took some tough losses.

“We learned and worked harder to peak when it was time. It was a phenomenal championship game.”

Giddens, a senior, said she too was extremely proud of her teammates. She feels knowing the home court like the back of their hand was an advantage—one they took advantage of.

“I think playing in our own gym had a sense of familiarity and comfort that helped us dig deep especially when the game got tough,” she said.

Weatherhead said the Dragons had to work for the win because of the hard work by CEC.

“CEC made us work and they pushed us which made it super fun to play,” she said. “I’m proud of everyone. I wouldn’t have wanted to finish the season any other way.”

Giddens and Weatherhead wanted to send a huge thank you to all the friends and parents who came out, and a special shoutout to Lockview’s Prom Committee, Lockview’s JV Girls Volleyball team, and the rest of the kind volunteers that made the weekend run so smoothly.

Halifax West won the girls provincial  bronze over Park View.

In the boys volleyball provincials, Lockview High claimed the bronze medal. Team photo is below as submitted to us.

SCHOOL SPORT N.S. VOLLEYBALL: Dartmouth Spartans boys’ team hope third time is the charm

George Myrer

The Dartmouth Spartans boys’ volleyball team is hoping the third time is a charm as they prepare for the School Sport Nova Scotia championship.

The Spartans, who are hosting the Division 1 boys’ championship, came up a little short in a hard-fought match against West Kings last year. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic kept them from playing the championship game match.

Spartans head coach Peter Halley said his team is excited to take another shot at provincial glory after winning the Capital Region banner two weekends ago.

“The team has made the provincial final the last two seasons,” said Halley. “Two years ago the final got cancelled due to Covid and last year we were so close. I believe the boys are really focused and hungry this year.”

A provincial championship for the Spartans would end a drought that dates back to 1981.

“The boys know the history but honestly, we’ve had one focus this year,” said Halley. “We’re focused on us, on us playing well.”

And Halley knows about winning. The longtime educator captured five consecutive provincial boys’ titles as the head coach of the Sackville Kingfishers from 2006 to 2010.

But he’s not about to get nostalgic over past titles.

“It was a great run but my mind is totally focused on this year with this group.”

This year’s championship is wide open with no team dominating, said Halley.

“At provincials, you can never count anyone out. West Kings are the defending champions. Bayview are the metro champions. Lockview won the Dalhousie tournament this year. We are the regional champions. So there are a lot of teams that can play good volleyball,” said Halley.

The Spartans will host Pool A with Bay View, Cobequid, Avon View. Pool B, being held at Auburn Drive, features West Kings, Lockview, Woodlawn and Park View.

Round-robin play begins on Friday. The playoff and medal matches on Saturday are at Dartmouth High.

Division 1 Girls

Capital Region champion Lockview Dragons will host Pool B play on Friday. Joining the Dragons are Park View, Sydney Academy and J.L. Ilsley.

Halifax West will host defending provincial champion Cobequid, Riverview and Citadel in Pool A.

The championship matches will be played at Lockview on Saturday.

Division 2 Boys

Middleton, last year’s champion, Cape Breton Highlands, Pugwash and Annapolis West comprise Pool A while host South Colchester, Armbrae, Dalbrae and North Queens round out Pool B.

The action begins on Friday with the medal matches on Saturday.

Division 2 Girls

West Kings hosts the championship tournament and will compete in Pool B with Halifax Grammar, Dalbrae and Middleton. Defending champion SAERC, Clare, Par-en-Bas and Eastern Shore round out Pool A.

The action begins on Friday and the medal matches on Saturday.