Richmond was well-represented this past week as the high school volleyball season concluded with various championships around the province.
The quality of play in the city has never been deeper as 18 senior boys and girls teams did battle for local bragging rights and beyond.
The McMath Wildcats, coached by Daniel Wong, captured the senior boys title with a hardfought win over Geoff Girling's McRoberts Strikers squad, while McMath also took the senior girls division as Rob Forbes' crew defeated Richmond Christian in the championship match.
Eight teams then moved onto the Lower Mainland playoffs to compete at the "A," "AA," "AAA" and "AAAA" levels.
Richmond Christian swept the "A" championships as Bob White's girls team defeated West Point Grey Acadeny and the boys squad got past Carver in straight sets.
In the boys "AA" Mainland tourney, it as an all-Richmond final as Cambie defeated McRoberts 3-1, avenging a loss just a week earlier in the city playoffs. It also secured the Crusaders their first-ever trip to the provincial championships.
At the girls "AAA" playoffs, McRoberts earned a B.C. berth with a third place finish, while McMath also booked a ticket to the provincials with a runner-up showing to Handsworth at the "AAAA" tournament.
At the "A" provincials, Richmond Christian's girls team placed fourth in Prince George after bowing out Chilliwack's Highroad Academy in the semifinals. In Kelowna, the boys squad, which featured mostly Grade 10s, placed a respectable eighth.
Rown Neufeld was named a first team tournament all-star and Jorm Lee was selected as an honourable mention.
Also in Kelowna, Cambie completed a memorable season with a 15th place finish. The team was guided by longtime coach Eric Ens, who has made a significant contribution to the sport for many years in Richmond. Ens also happened to guide Cambie's senior girls' team to its one and only B.C. title back in 2002.
In Parksville, McRoberts closed out an outstanding season with a fourth place showing at the "AAA" provincials. The Trish Nicholson coached squad lost to eventual winners Seaquam in the semi-finals. Cassidy Chang and Delanie Chang were both named to the tournament's first all-star team.
The Wildcats, who held down the number one ranking in the province earlier this season, completed an impressive 2011 campaign with a fifth place finish in North Vancouver.
The teams gold medal hopes ended with a quarter-final loss to Heritage Woods. The girls rebounded to win their final two matches, including the fifth place battle against Earl Marriott. Juliana Kaufmanis earned first team all-star honours, while Kristen Almhjell was named to the second team
.png;w=120;h=80;mode=crop)