The dark horse of high school volleyball is galloping into first place.

The Belmont senior boys team dominates the court this year.

B次元官网网址淚t feels weird. We were always (known as) the team that loses,B次元官网网址� said power hitter Taran Siles.

With a 19-3 record, they rank No. 1 in the city, No. 1 on the Island and No. 5 in the province heading into city championships that wrap today (Nov. 6) at Belmont in pursuit of a spot at the Islands, Nov. 15 and 16.

B次元官网网址淭his year weB次元官网网址檝e just been really determined, knowing itB次元官网网址檚 our last year,B次元官网网址� said captain Aidan Wells.

Coach Kris Johnson says the players have stepped up their game on top of running and diving hard during practices.

B次元官网网址淭he goal for the team is to be the best in Victoria and the best on the Island,B次元官网网址� said  Johnson.

B次元官网网址淭hey also wanted to be fifth in the province, but theyB次元官网网址檝e already done that. Their strength and dedication are amazing.B次元官网网址�

Johnson, in her third year coaching the senior boys team at Belmont also coaches the junior boys at Dunsmuir middle school, where she has been coaching for eight years.

Of the 15-player team, six have played together since they where in Grade 8 under JohnsonB次元官网网址檚 coaching.

B次元官网网址淲e just know each other so well now,B次元官网网址� said middle blocker Douglass Waterman.

B次元官网网址淭he senior boys team is probably our most accomplished team this year,B次元官网网址� said BelmontB次元官网网址檚 athletic director, Ken Lowe.

B次元官网网址淭hey are the whole package.B次元官网网址�

Senior girls

The senior girls team, with a 6-1 record, is ranked third on the Island.

B次元官网网址淚t will be disappointing if they donB次元官网网址檛 make it to Islands,B次元官网网址� Lowe said. B次元官网网址淭hey are a good serving team and have some strong hitters. The senior girls are pretty experienced and they are very athletic.B次元官网网址�

Junior squads

The junior girls and junior boys teams will have a harder time at city championships, facing up to 18 other teams in the city with only the top three moving to Island Championships.

The junior teams compete against every team in the Sooke School District.

The junior girls, at 18-2, are ranked second in the city and on the Island.

B次元官网网址淲e are big and we are athletic,B次元官网网址� said Lowe, the junior girls coach.

The junior boys team struggles with a limiting six-player team and sits at 7-11 on the season.