The cavernous gymnasium at Dunsmuir middle school echoes with the thumping sound of spiked volleyballs hitting the floor.
ItB次元官网网址檚 a holiday Tuesday and the Belmont Bulldogs senior boys team is mixing in with members of the Camosun Chargers menB次元官网网址檚 team B次元官网网址� some of whom are Belmont grads.
The younger players are going through drills in preparation for this weekendB次元官网网址檚 six-team Island AAA championships at NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 Dover Bay secondary.
The Bulldogs, who finished second overall in the multi-level, combined city league with a 19-9 record, enter the draw as the No. 3 south seed after beating Claremont but losing a tough three-set match to Reynolds the recent South Island AAA playoffs.
Belmont head coach Kris Johnson said league play and the previous playoff results essentially go out the window once a team moves on to the next round.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always a chance for a fresh start,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a chance for them to demonstrate that theyB次元官网网址檙e capable.B次元官网网址�
Belmont gets a chance to redeem themselves Friday at the Islands, being placed in a pool with Reynolds and North Island champion Dover Bay for the opening round.
The teamB次元官网网址檚 first goal is to win their pool and from there, anything can happen, Johnson said. The top four teams qualify for the provincial championships, scheduled for Nov. 26 to 29 at the Langley Events Centre.
B次元官网网址淥ne of the things that was evident at the South Islands was the way they maintained their composure,B次元官网网址� Johnson said of her players. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e a scrappy team. They donB次元官网网址檛 stop. WeB次元官网网址檝e been down in some pretty big matches and came back.B次元官网网址�
Assistant coach Jaden Mandy, a 2014 Belmont grad whoB次元官网网址檚 helping Johnson this year, said they saw a few things they needed to change and were working this week on B次元官网网址渢uning up with a few different drills.B次元官网网址�
Johnson said having Mandy around this season has been a huge bonus for the team.
B次元官网网址淗e brings experience and an unreal understanding of the game,B次元官网网址� she said. Being a former teammate of many of the Bulldogs, and still being close in age helps him relate better to them at times, Johnson added.
The side is led on the attack by team kills leaders Jakob Purdy in the middle and Tobias Hayward, who alternates between left side hitter and libero. The two Grade 12s are a contrast in appearance, with Purdy the prototypical volleyball front liner standing six-foot-seven, and Hayward just five-nine but possessing incredible leaping ability.
B次元官网网址淭hose guys have both been game-changers for us,B次元官网网址� Johnson said, noting theyB次元官网网址檝e come up with the some key points in big matches this season.
Another player who has stepped up when needed is Grade 11 right side Ben Ousey.
Grade 12 setter Lucas Longstaff is as steady as they come, consistently putting up well-positioned passes to his teammates.
Belmont has a mix of ages on the team, with seven Grade 12s, six Grade 11s and two Grade 10s, in the absence of a junior boys team this fall.
Round robin play goes today, with crossover playoff matches happening Saturday in Nanaimo.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
