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Semiahmoo Totems scorch Langley Christian for B.C. Grade 9 volleyball crown

Victory gives South Surrey squad a provincial banner to go with city, Fraser Valley titles
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Semiahmoo Totems Izzy Forsyth at the net against Seaquam Friday at Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary, during the team’s opening game of Grade 9 girls volleyball provincials. (Nick Greenizan photo)

The Semiahmoo Totems are the toast of the B.C. Grade 9 volleyball scene after winning a provincial title Saturday in Cloverdale.

And they did it by defeating a familiar foe – the Langley Christian Lightning – in the championship game.

The two squads faced off earlier this month in Fraser Valley semifinals, with Semiahmoo emerging victorious en route to capturing a championship banner, and the same result played out again Saturday at Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary, with the South Surrey team getting the upper hand.

“The girls all played well, served tough and played their roles,” Semiahmoo coach Gord Houchen told Peace Arch News. “It was awesome – a great day Saturday.”

The provincial championship caps an impressive year for the Grade 9 squad, which also won the Surrey championships prior to success at the Valley tournament. Just days before stepping on the court for provincials, Houchen heaped praise upon his team for its success to that point, but admitted that winning a third banner in the span of just a few weeks would be a challenge.

“Our goals this year were to get better every day, and also to win all three (tournaments),” said Houchen, who told PAN the victory was his first provincial high-school title in his 31-year coaching career.

“It was a great tournament, and a great season… the girls are already talking about winning all three again next year at the junior level.”

Langley took an early lead in the final Saturday, but Houchen said a turning point was the play of Izzy Forsyth, who went on a run of 10 straight serves to put the Peninsula crew back into the game.

“Then (Tara) Wallack and (Annika) Vosloh crushed the ball to finish them off in Game 1,” he continued.

In Game 2, Houchen said, the Totems got strong serves from Jenna Linford to give her team a lead, “and then we never looked back,” the coach said.

Semiahmoo opened the tournament Friday morning with a straight-sets victory over the Seaquam Seahawks – with Houchen praising both Wallack an Bo Stephen for strong play – and followed that performance with wins over Eric Hamber and McRoberts secondaries to finish as the top seed in their group, heading into Saturday’s playoff rounds.

A bye through the first playoff round set up a quarter-final showdown with North Vancouver’s Handsworth Royals, who had defeated Seaquam in the opening round. Semiahmoo took out the Royals 2-0, led by “the strong setting and defence of Nicole Pajic and the hitting of Emma Wubs.”

“Nicole had a really great game. She really moved the ball around well for us,” Houchen said.

After beating the Royals, the Totems squared off against the host Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers in semifinal action, and again won 2-0.