Elgin Park's senior boys 3A volleyball team were crowned provincial champions on Vancouver Island Saturday (Nov. 30).
The South Surrey high school squad brought home the B.C. banner after battling through to finals with such impressive talent and team spirit, their coaches couldn't praise them enough, not only for winning provincials, but for their entire season.
"It's hard to put into words just how proud of these boys I am. The seniors of this group have put so much time and effort into this sport over the past five years, and we couldn’t have done it without the support of the Grade 11s that joined us this season," head coach Matt Ekholm shared.
"Working hard every day at practice to help push the starting seniors to be their best in the biggest moments and always providing amazing energy from the sidelines... it was truly a team effort and it couldn’t have been done without any one of the players on the team."
The Orcas had a bit of a bumpy start to the tournament, he and coach Melissa Bonn noted, with one of their star players being extremely sick, but the team battled through to a fifth and final set against Vancouver Island's Claremont Secondary, and were down 8-12, with "all hope seemingly lost," Ekholm said.
"By sheer will and determination, we had one of the greatest comebacks I have ever seen in my time as a coach to claw back and win the set 15-12, saving our provincial hopes," Ekholm said.
After another tight five sets vs. Kitsilano, the team faced Kelowna Secondary — the school that won the past three provincial titles and was ranked No. 1 heading into the tournament — in the semi-final.
Having lost to KSS in several deciding matches in the past, this year, the senior squad broke the pattern and defeated them in four sets to earn a spot in the gold-medal match.
"They 'slayed the dragon' if you will! Winning that game was so incredible emotionally for all the players and coaches and it felt like we could not be stopped at that point," Ekholm said.
Bonn, who is retiring from teaching at the end of the school year, noted the team was inspired by a speech from Ekholm after losing the first set to KSS.
"It was our 'Superbowl' game defeating them," she said.
After wining against Delta Secondary in the gold-medal final to take the provincial title.
"It was pandemonium!" Bonn said. "We had so many fans in the stands that all rushed the court and celebrated with us. The support we got over the year and especially over the tournament was amazing."
At one of the tournament's earlier games, unbeknownst to Ekholm or Bonn, the players — with the help of team parents — showed up with new warm-up shirts that read "4 Bonn's" on the front as a tribute to how much she has meant to them, Ekholm noted.
"They were determined to win it all for her. It was truly a touching gesture and really exemplifies the care of this group and the bond they had created together," Ekholm said.
Bonn admitted she may have one more year of coaching left in her although she is retiring from teaching.
"I got very choked up — it was such a beautiful, heartwarming thing for the boys to do."
Elsewhere in provincials, Okanagan Mission won in 4A senior girls volleyball action at Earl Marriott Secondary on Saturday in a five-set thriller over Riverside to win the provincial title, while Crofton House won the 3A girls title, Abbotsford Christian won the 2A girls title and Unity Christian won the gold in 1A girls volleyball in the province.
Credo Christian won the 1A boys title, while Langley Christian came away with the 2A boys win.
