The Moscrop Panthers wrapped up first place with a straight set victory over Burnaby Mountain in district senior boys' volleyball on Tuesday.
The No. 7 provincially ranked Panthers coasted to a 25-8, 25-15, 25-19 win over Mountain to finish the Burnaby/New Westminster regular season schedule with an unblemished record.
As the first-place finisher, Moscrop will host the boys' district playoffs on Thursday. The banner final game is scheduled for 7: 30 p.m.
The Panthers are also the hosts for the Lower Mainland zone provincial qualifying tournament that will take place the following week.
With four final appearances in four senior tournaments this season, including the team's second title of the season last week in Richmond, Moscrop is poised to make another run to the AAA provincial championships.
With all-star libero Marcus Jung, setter Zach Or and Grade 11 power hitter J.J. Cross, Moscrop has been ranked as high as third overall in the provincial high school rankings this season.
"We have a really good core of leadership. It's not really a high school team, it's just so different," said Moscrop volunteer co-coach Kim Or. "It's like a family. It's the journey. We're walking through this together."
But winning an elusive Lower Mainland title will take a solid effort from every player on the squad, Or added.
"Last year, we overachieved. This year we have a target on our backs. There are no easy games."
The Grade 10 Moscrop girls will also play host to the district junior playvol-leyball downs, which will take place on Wednesday next week at the westside school.
"All of them want to five-peat," said Or, who also coaches the junior girls' team at Moscrop. "They want it, just like the boys."
