With the wind-up of last week’s senior girls AA Lower Mainlands not being all they hoped for, the St. Thomas More Knights are now on a mission to bring it home.
As the squad entered the prep week for the provincial championships, which run Nov. 28 to Dec. 1 at the Burnaby school, they had redemption on the mind. Although they fell to fifth overall at the Lower Mainlands, the Knights found more than a glimmer to hang their hopes on.
Being the host school meant they had already secured their position at the B.C.s, so how high they finished last week wasn’t as important as how well they felt exiting the zone tourney.
Still, getting usurped 2-1 by unranked Elphinstone in the quarterfinal was a reminder of how valuable consistency over a full match can be.
“We came up against a very strong Elphinstone team (in the quarterfinals), and they had a really great tournament, showcasing a lot of resilience and mental toughness,” remarked Knights co-coach Cassie Lauang. “They outplayed us during the big points and caught us on our heels in the second and third sets. It was a tough loss, but one that forced us to adapt and learn on the fly.”
It was close, with the decisive tally
going to the wall at 16-14 reflecting the fight the Knights put up. They did it also without a pair of starters – twins Giulianna and Isabella Gaspar – and provided a platform for others to rise to the occasion.
Of those players, Grade 12 libero Francesca Sandini and Grade 11 Alex Tarazi made the most of it and delivered some strong work at right side and libero, respectively.
“(Sandini) really stepped up and played a role in the games that followed that loss. Frankie was able to step into the right side position, one that she hasn’t played since September, and brought some great firepower out of there,” noted Lauang.
Elphinstone went on to finish second to No. 1-ranked York House at the Mainlands.
By ending the tourney on a two-game win streak, beating both St. Pat’s and St. Thomas Aquinas by 2-0 scores, STM garnered a positive result from a tough weekend.
The Knights, who finished second at last year’s provincials, boast a young lineup, with just four Grade 12s. Among the newcomers is Ezawa Malish, a Grade 10 who only picked up the sport a year ago and has established herself as a strong asset at the net.
“(Malish) is a force to be reckoned with when she’s in the zone,” Lauang said. “We call her ‘Ez’ because she makes blocking look just so darn easy sometimes.”
The Grade 12s, meanwhile, are well-versed in what’s ahead.
Last year’s result is something that can be improved on. And gold is definitely their goal.
“I think our returning players have been waiting to be back at provincials since they took the silver medal off their necks last year. They were very proud to place second, but it’s that pursuit of excellence that’s been eating at them since last year. They’re antsy to get started and they’re a dangerous group of four who are now hungry for it,” said Lauang. “The rest of the team will follow our seniors’ example and will bring a lot of joy to the team.”
It’ll be how they carry that on to the court next week, with action at the B.C.s kicking off on Thursday at 11 a.m.
“A lot of our girls are very athletic and competitive,” noted Lauang. “When it’s combined with the volleyball IQ and tenacity that our seniors bring to the table, they’re unstoppable. At provincials, it’s now going to be about who is ready for the tough matches, the tough sets, the tough points and which teams can outlast each other through those battles.”
The tournament semifinals are slated for Dec. 1 at 11 a.m., with the gold medal game going at 6:30 p.m. at STM.
