There's a blue banner on its way by ferry to Port Coquitlam.
After falling 1-2, Riverside Secondary staged a two-set comeback to win the B.C. AAAA senior girls volleyball championships today (Dec. 11).
The Rapids rallied to knock off the top-seeded South Delta Secondary 3-2 in the gold medal match and finish the provincial tournament 8-0.
Riverside pulled away in the first set by a score of 25-17 before the Sun Devils torched back with 25-15 and 25-23victories in the second and third sets respectively.
With their backs against the walls, head coach Bryan Gee's squad had to go into two extra games, 26-24, to force a fifth and deciding set and regain hope of hoisting the championship trophy.
The momentum carried on and lifted the Rapids to a 15-9 final set win and another banner for the school's gymnasium.
Riverside — who also won Fraser North regionals — finished the 2021 tournament on Vancouver Island with a perfect 8-0 record & won 18 of 23 sets over the 3-day event… their last two games went to 5 full sets 🥇 | #PortCoquitlam pic.twitter.com/ZXbdu4lclA
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) December 12, 2021
This capped a successful 2021 campaign for the Port Coquitlam high school after winning Fraser North regionals to get to the big dance in Nanaimo.
Riverside posted a 78 per cent winning average after claiming 18 of their 23 sets at provincials — they swept their first five opponents through until the quarterfinals, including finishing first in their preliminary group.
The ladies' final two contests went to five-set thrillers as playoff contests were best-of-fives compared to best-of-threes in round-robin play.
The Rapids' match results over the three-day event at Dover Bay Secondary were as follows:
- 3-2 win over South Delta (gold medal game)
- 3-2 win over Nanaimo Secondary (semi-final)
- 3-1 win over Pinetree Secondary (quarter-final)
- 3-0 win over Burnaby Central (Round of 16)
- 2-0 win over Semiahmoo
- 2-0 win over Claremont Secondary
- 2-0 win over Yale Secondary
- 2-0 win over West Vancouver
More impressive, School District 43 (SD43) saw three regional teams place inside the top 10 of the AAAA senior girls volleyball championship.
Pinetree Secondary finished sixth after the Timberwolves — the runners-up in the Fraser North final — lost their last match to West Kelowna's Mount Boucherie Secondary, but amassed an admirable record of of 5-3.
The Coquitlam school went 3-1 during the pool stage and 2-2 in the playoffs.
Terry Fox Secondary had a rough start to provincials, but managed to pick themselves up to reach the finals on the consolation side.
The Ravens went on to lose to West Vancouver to claim 10th place and post a 3-6 record. Terry Fox played an extra game after going winless in the group stage, defeating North Peace Secondary (Fort St. John) to earn one of the last Round of 16 spots.
In Abbotsford, Archbishop Carney Regional Secondary placed 12th at the 2021 B.C. AA senior girls championship.
Archbishop Carney Regional Secondary finished 12th at the 2021 B.C. AA Sr. Girls volleyball championships ⭐️🏐 The Stars held a 1-6 record after being relegated to the placement draw from the Round of 16 | #PortCoquitlam pic.twitter.com/C8scICUMru
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) December 12, 2021
