Court is in session for the Moscrop senior Panthers.
Both the senior girls and boys teams were setting their sights on big efforts Thursday night in the league playoff championships (played after NOW deadline).
For the girls, adversity is going to be either fuel for their fire or a heavy weight to bear.
In a tournament two weekends ago in South Surrey, Moscrop’s standout power Camilla DiVito suffered a shoulder injury that has put her on the sidelines.
Panthers head coach Kim Or said losing DiVito, a Grade 12 international student from Italy, has created opportunity for others. But it’s hard not to see the challenge, considering the impact DiVito’s unexpected arrival provided for the No. 6-ranked Burnaby team.
“(DiVito) instantly put us into the upper echelon of the AAAA class,” remarked Or. “We had our best finish at the UBC-O tournament (in October) when we lost to (No. 2-ranked) Handsworth in the finals, and Camilla and Fiona Chen were selected to the all-star team. ... Missing Camilla will be a huge loss for us, but this group of special girls has continued to be resilient and focused on the process.”
Undefeated in league action, the Panthers began the Burnaby-New West playoffs on Tuesday by sweeping Burnaby Mountain, to enter into the championship final against Burnaby Central as the favourite.
Both teams are assured of spots at next week’s Lower Mainlands, as Moscrop and Burnaby Central will co-host the tourney, beginning Nov. 16.
“This is truly a team and everyone contributes and everyone plays,” remarked Or. “They love training and being together, and it is so nice to see and be a part of.”
The Moscrop boys also had a date with Burnaby Central Thursday night (past the NOW's deadline) in the league final.
A perfect 6-0 after the regular season, the Panthers took a tough loss in pool play of the Argyle tournament last week, which coach Tatsuki Taylor saw as a great motivational opportunity.
“I think it was a wake-up call for the boys, and now we know to not take any team or situation lightly,” said Taylor of his No. 18-ranked squad. “I think the boys are up to any challenge thrown at them, and they’re looking to prove themselves against the Vancouver and Richmond competition.”
Moscrop’s main goal of advancing to the provincials will get its ultimate test next week at the Lower Mainlands, but Taylor feels it is within reach.
“We know the Vancouver and Richmond teams are all very talented and tough to beat, so we have to approach this tournament with an underdog mentality and with maximum effort,” he said.
The team has been led by leftside Ted Graveson, the Panthers’ most effective passer, and setter Benjamin Truong. Carving out important roles were leftside Jodai Suzuki and Grade 10 Markus Wong on the rightside.
“Qualifying for the B.C.s was a goal we set for ourselves at the very beginning of the season, and in order to meet that goal we have to play tough and smart,” added Taylor.
Mountain, North tops in juniors
The Burnaby Mountain Lions emerged victorious in the Burnaby-New West junior girls volleyball playoffs this week.
They topped Burnaby North 3-1 in the championship final on Tuesday, after blanking Burnaby South 3-0 in the semifinal last week.
Both the Lions and Vikings now advance to the Vancouver & District playoffs, while Burnaby South, who defeated Moscrop 3-2 to place third, has to play Elphinstone in a wildcard contest for the last berth.
The Lions’ Emilija Marian and Ruby Beach were named to the league all-star team. They were joined by Burnaby North’s Mika Kurahashi and Jaclynn Quan, Burnaby South’s Sophia Liamas and Moscrop’s Serena Dong.
The junior boys final saw the Burnaby North Vikings, who finished with a 4-0 record during the regular season, stop the Byrne Creek Bulldogs 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-16).
North, which dropped just three sets during the season – two in a nail-biting 3-2 win over Moscrop to end the regular season – earned the league’s top seed to the Vancouver & Districts behind a strong performance.
In the semifinals, they defeated Burnaby South 3-0, while Byrne Creek edged Burnaby Mountain 3-2 in a thriller.
In the battle for third place, South withstood a strong Mountain push to prevail 3-2.
Picking up all-star awards were the
Vikings’ Kyle Anderson and Justin Quan,
Byrne Creek’s Samson Cai and Jun Choi, Burnaby South’s Ryan Jhutti, and Burnaby Mountain’s Yubyn Cho.
