They played to win, so the disappointment of finishing second was real.
But the St. Thomas More Knights senior girls volleyball team demonstrated skill, passion and true grit in getting to the championship final and pushing the eventual victors at the B.C. AA provincials in Vanderhoof last weekend.
They defeated last year’s champions and twice crossed paths with Langley Christian, who in the final emerged with a 3-0 victory.
Knights head coach Becky Lang felt the girls were in fine form during the three-day series, which saw them play seven matches, including a pair of five-game sets against powerhouse opponents.
“It was definitely a lot of good volleyball, but it was a long trip,” Lang said. “We kind of wish it had gone a little longer.”
Although they briefly led in the final’s first set against Langley Christian, STM was unable to match their strong outside hitting game. Up against eventual tourney MVP Savannah Caterino-Leger, the Knights pushed back, blocked and did their digging-est best. Unfortunately, Langley’s squad was able to weather the storm and pull away, giving the Fraser Valley school a rare AA sports sweep on the day.
Langley Christian had earlier captured the senior boys title in Langley.
“We were able to take a set off them in pool play, but it was that much tougher (in the final),” remarked Lang.
The final was foreshadowed in the first game of pool play, where the Knights took the Langley school to three sets before falling 2-1 (25-16, 19-25, 15-13). They bounced back and swept their other two pool matches, beating both Valleyview and the host Nechako Valley 2-0.
On day two, STM bested both Brentwood and York House – in the latter, earning revenge for a loss two weeks earlier in the Lower Mainland final – to advance to the semifinal. That victory over York House was a marathon 3-2 affair, with the final set going 19-17 in their favour.
“I think York House had match point two times, but we fought back,” recalled Lang.
It put them against MEI in the semifinal, where the defending champion and No. 2-ranked Eagles won the first set. STM came back and took the next two sets, before it all came down to a fifth and deciding game where the Knights prevailed 3-2 (18-25, 25-23, 25-16, 20-25, 15-7).
The Burnaby team poured it on and earned its ticket to the final with a strong, balanced performance, led by middle power Elizabeth Bilawey.
“We had quite a few coaches and even officials that said that semifinal was the best match of the tournament,” said STM’s coach. “That was by far our best game of the season.”
It may have drained the tank as STM was unable to keep pace with Langley Christian over the next three sets.
“(Langley) didn’t get deterred by all our big blocks and big digs. … We struggled a bit on service and just got a little frustrated, it was at the end of a lot of volleyball,” added Lang.
The coach noted both Bilawey and Vanessa Gatto, who were selected to the first and second all-star teams, were terrific.
“They both played extremely well,” said Lang. “(Bilawey) was our best player every game, and (Gatto) was amazing. I was very disappointed that, having placed second overall, we didn’t see other players get that recognition. Gigi Janes was phenomenal for us, blocking and attacking, while Anika Gatto was definitely one of the strongest liberos (at the tournament) and a big reason we did so well.”
She also pointed to Grade 11 Lauren Boddington, who came in and provided strong work.
“When we needed help on serve recovery, (Boddington) came in and did very well.”
Another element which buoyed the team’s spirits were the constant texts, emails and tweets they received from fellow Knights, both staff and students, and alumni in support of their run.
“After every single game the amount of messages we were getting was amazing,” recalled Lang. “From students, colleagues, the (STM) football team, and around the community – it was super awesome.”
The players wore armbands with the initials 'BK', in tribute of STM teacher and football coach Bernie Kully, who died last September.
She was gratified that her players were so well supported as they represented the school so far from home.
“Just the fact we made school history, because this is the first time STM had made a senior girls volleyball final. While I can say everyone was pretty much heart-broken after the final, it was a successful season.”
