It really says something when a Belmont senior girls volleyball team plagued by injuries and forced to forfeit a couple matches in the city 4A playoffs is still ranked No. 10 in the province.
Coach Mike ToakleyB次元官网网址檚 team hosts the final league play evening of the season tonight (Nov. 12, 6 p.m.) in preparation for this weekendB次元官网网址檚 Island championships at Oak Bay. Looking at how the girlsB次元官网网址� season has shaped up, he said heB次元官网网址檚 never seen anything like it in 30-plus years of coaching.
To cover off for injured players over the past month or so, heB次元官网网址檚 recruited a couple of former junior girls players, including one whoB次元官网网址檚 committed to ice hockey, and one of the stars off the current junior girls team B次元官网网址� who later broke her wrist.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e never had a season like this, where a team has lost players and picked up players to salvage their season,B次元官网网址� Toakley said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 extremely proud of how the girls have adapted to the challenges as theyB次元官网网址檝e come up, one after the other, after the other.B次元官网网址�
TonightB次元官网网址檚 action offers a chance to see what works and what doesnB次元官网网址檛 in the makeshift lineup, he said. Looking ahead to Islands, making the final and claiming one of the two berths into the upcoming provincial 4A championships in Cranbrook will require firing on all cylinders against some tough teams.
With Greater Victoria teams the power on the Island this season, it may come down to who beats who between the top three of Oak Bay, Claremont and Belmont.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e split with Oak Bay this year, but we havenB次元官网网址檛 played them with our revamped lineup,B次元官网网址� Toakley said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a real question mark whether this lineup is a better one than what we had before. ItB次元官网网址檒l be different, for sure.B次元官网网址�
Belmont hasnB次元官网网址檛 lost to Claremont this season.
The BulldogsB次元官网网址� transformation of necessity has seen established players moved into different roles and newcomers given responsibilities theyB次元官网网址檝e never had before.
Grade 12 setter Danielle Potier remains in her critical role. But fellow seniors Nicole Bracewell, formerly the teamB次元官网网址檚 libero and sometime defensive specialist and now a rightside attacker; and Cassy Allen, a former middle blocker who has moved over to play leftside, are learning new positions. Less so for Jessica Thomsen, a former rightside whoB次元官网网址檚 been shifted to the left.
Among the newcomers, hockey player Jessica Lusk was recommended to Toakley by Belmont athletic director Ken Lowe, who coached her in junior girls and was impressed by her athleticism. When sheB次元官网网址檚 available, sheB次元官网网址檚 lining up at middle, as is fellow recruit Monique Lutyk, another former Lowe junior who went into the Nov. 4 league night with one practice under her belt yet performed admirably as the Bulldogs won four straight games.
Rounding out the roster are front row players, Rebecca Birtwistle and Allegra Pala, who has been touch and go with a back injury of late.
Both finalists make the provincials, unlike last year when just one berth was automatic. Belmont lost the 2013 final to Vanier of Courtenay and was forced to play in a wild card tournament on the mainland, where it fell short by one spot again for a berth into the B.C. championships. No wild card tournament is being held this year.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
Tourney time
B次元官网网址� The Belmont Bulldogs senior girls volleyball team opens the Island 4A championships Friday at Oak Bay High with pool play matches against Cowichan (12:10 p.m.), Spectrum (3:40 p.m.) and Oak Bay (4:50 p.m.).
B次元官网网址� The dayB次元官网网址檚 results will determine SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 crossover round opponents. The two pool winners receive a bye to the semifinals at noon. The final and bronze medal matches happen at 3:30 p.m.
