The ADSS Junior Girls Volleyball team defeated Carihi High of Campbell River in a nailbiting three sets at the Island championships last weekend to earn a berth in the provincial finals.
It is the first time since 1986 that an ADSS volleyball squad has played in a provincial championship, according to a team spokesperson.
The Island Championship was the third tournament in as many weekends for the Armada—a team that coaches say keeps exceeding expectations.
Back on Nov. 4–5, the team went to the zone playoffs seeded seventh out of eight teams. They won key matches against Highland Secondary and Timberline to finish in fourth place, the last berth to the North Island Championships the following weekend.
Again, the girls were seeded in the last spot in an eight-team tournament at Isfeld Secondary in Comox. The ADSS Armada, coached by Tanya Dudoward, needed to finish in the top 4 to earn a place at the Islands.
Again, the girls battled their way to a fourth place finish, beating Brooks Secondary in the third game of the best-of-three match, earning their place at the Islands.
The team travelled to Campbell River last Friday where they met Brooks again, going to a tie-beaking third set and winning 15–12.
Their opportunity to earn a place at the provincials came Saturday, against Carihi from Campbell River. After winning the first set, the girls lost the second, forcing a third and deciding set with the winner going to provincials and the loser seeing their season come to an end.
The Armada won a barn-burner 15-12, earning the provincial berth.
The provincials take place this coming weekend in North Delta.
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