Senior boys and girls Gryphons have shown again they can mix it with the best in the provincials.
Just a few points denied the boys the honour of waking up this week as provincial champions. How cruel sport can be, how fine the dividing line between kings and pretenders.
As it is, the Gryphs have to content themselves with fourth place in the Whitecourt tourney last weekend – a significant achievement and a huge motivator for next year.
Meanwhile, the girls finished the year with a fifth place provincial finish after competing in Camrose.
“They were great ambassadors for the community and the school and they ‘did me proud’ all season long,” said coach Kyle Becker.
The boys Gryphons got off to a good start, placing second in their pool. In the quarterfinals, they faced Springbank, winning the game 25-21 and 25-14.
Next up was Louis St. Laurent. It turned into a battle royal, with the Gryphons going down 28-26 and 25-22.
Despite the semifinal disappointment, the Barrhead players raised their game for the bronze medal match. The contest went to three pulsating sets, but the Gryphons simply could not push themselves over the line, losing 26-24, 25-20 and 15-13.
It meant they finished fourth, winning the fourth place ranking in 3A boys volleyball.
Just a week earlier the Senior Gryphons had been crowned zone champions in Athabasca.
Gryphons coach Rod Callihoo was in reflective mood after the Whitecourt tournament, hailing some “massive gains” throughout the season.
“We were able to prepare very well to get to provincials and also say that we were so close to the top that we can be very satisfied with ourselves and our accomplishments,” he said.
Callihoo said the top four teams were very similar – a fact that surely bodes well for future Barrhead campaigns.
“We knew that the team that was the most consistent at provincials would get top spot,” he said.
“This concludes another successful year for us and we would like to thank the parents for their support and all of the people that came to cheer us on at provincials.”
Callihoo paid tribute to his players, thanking them for their dedication and commitment to volleyball.
“As we reflect back on the year it will give us satisfaction and also rekindle the desire to work harder to return to provincials next year and battle again for that provincial championship.”
Becker said the girls had an “a pretty good tournament” without hitting their full stride.
“I don’t think we really got into a groove and played to our full abilities, but that is what makes winning the provincial tournament special,” he said. “You have to be able to compete and play at the top of your game every single match.”
The girls finished second in the round robin section, and moved into the quarterfinals where they faced Chestermere. It was a tough match and the Gryphons were second best.
“The Chestermere team played extremely well and we didn’t have an answer for their two outside hitters,” said Becker. “Chestermere ended up coming in second to Lacombe which was the team we lost to in our round robin.”
