McMath secondary’s senior girls volleyball team took home the provincial championship title this past weekend.
The team competed in the 2022 BC School Sports AAA Girls Volleyball Provincial Championships at Lake Country, B.C. from Dec. 1 to 3.
The Wildcats were behind two sets to one, but turned the game around and won 3-2 against West Vancouver secondary with a final set score of 15-11.
Team captain Caitlin Kippan and Marina Radocaj played with a “strong attack and fierce blocking” as Kippan delivered four kills in a row during the fourth set against West Vancouver, according to Tanya Kippan, McMath’s senior girls volleyball coach.
Setter Madison Wong and teammate player Alex Yuill also set the pace of the games and kept the team’s defence up.
Teammates Tiana Maedel, Anna Vorontsova, Marley Goodhew, Elle Sweetman and Emma Samson’s teamwork pushed the Wildcats closer to the trophy.
Coach Kippan said the school’s “road to success” for the year went “beyond their play” on court.
“This team has a passion for volleyball and a true love for the sport. It is their patience both on and off the court that has created a team that works best under pressure, always finding a way to clinch a win in close scoring fifth sets,” she said.
“They define what working as a team is, as they are the most selfless players who always put the team and their teammates first and ahead of their own individual needs.”
She added the girls’ “comradery” was the key to the team’s success for the entire season.
Radocaj received Most Valuable Player of the tournament and Wong earned the Tournament Second Team AII-Star honours.
Team captain Kippan also received Tournament First Team All-Star honours.
The Wildcats had earlier beat Earl Marriott secondary 3-0 to move into the quarter-finals against Seaton secondary from Vernon.
McMath knocked out Seaton and continued into the semi-finals against Vancouver’s Croton House, winning 3-1.
This is the second provincial banner for McMath secondary after this year’s basketball championships in March.
