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One of the favourites to reach the B.C. School Sports provincial senior AA girls volleyball championship match on Saturday, the George Elliot Coyotes face a huge challenge just to handle the high expectations.
The Lake Country representatives are seeded No. 2 among the 20 teams converging on three gymnasiums in Vernon beginning on Thursday, and will be looking to bring home their first girls' volleyball championship in 43 years.
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“We will have to be mentally tough and we need to be ready to overcome tough points that always occur at the provincial-championship level,” said veteran GESS head coach Doug Meraw on Monday. “But if the way the girls played at the Valley championship is any indication, they will be prepared for whatever they face.”
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Power hitter and co-captain Tessa Ivans will be counted on heavily at Provincials in Vernon.
“It felt like they played better than at any time this season,” offered Meraw. “They had some big wins this year, but playing consistently at a high level was the goal going in and they accomplished just that. It gives us a lot of confidence that we’re ready heading into the BCs.”
As usual, the Coyotes were led by their captains, Tessa Ivans and Jasanna Kunz, while Grade 11 power, Chloe Ladd, was hitting the ball harder than she had all season.
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Defence will be a key to success and Thea Ley, a Grade 11 libero, is up to the task.
Meraw lauded the balance and depth of his team that had finished no lower than fifth in six invitational tournaments leading up to the Valley championship and had been ranked as high as No. 1 in the province this fall.
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The George Elliot Coyotes won their first Okanagan Valley senior girls' volleyball championship in more than 20 years recently and will be the No. 1 representative from the zone at the B.C. School Sports AA championship tournament in Vernon beginning on Thursday. Members of the team are, from left, front: Jessye Large, Jasanna Kunz, Tessa Ivans, Thea Ley and Hunter Libke. Back: Kristina Stefanek (coach), Madelyn Killingsworth, Kelbrai Mellum, Georgia Maclean, Lily Spannier, Kazzidy Gunn, Chloe Ladd, Amy Heggs, Sheena Macfarlane and Doug Meraw (coach).
Looking ahead to the 20-team provincial tournament in Vernon, Meraw will guide his team through pool play on Thursday at Clarence Fulton Secondary against No. 9-ranked Holy Cross of Vancouver, No. 12 Brentwood College and No. 19 Caledonia of Terrace.
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George Elliot's setter, Sheena Macfarlane, keeps the opposition off balance.
Pacific Academy Breakers of Surrey go into the three-day event as the No. 1 seed while Pacific Christian Pacers of Victoria are ranked No. 3, York House Tigers of Vancouver No 4 and MEI Eagles of Abbotsford No. 5.
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Power Chloe Ladd peaking at just the right time for Coyotes.
Meraw looks forward to the opportunity to see his team earn a rematch and possibly play for Elliot’s third provincial senior girls title (the school won in 1974 and 1976 while finishing second in 1978 and 1988).
“If we play them (Pacific Academy), it would probably come down to which team passes the best and plays the best defence. Both teams are strong offensively, so the team that digs the best will have the edge.”
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Jasanna Kunz co-captains the Coyotes in her final year at George Elliot.
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Middle play for the Coyotes has improved immensely and Lily Spannier has played a huge part.
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