The inaugural South Fraser playoffs proved to be treacherous for local senior volleyball teams.
The Delta Pacers are headed to the Langley Events Centre for next week’s BC AAA Boys Championships but just barely after being granted a wild card berth and being seeded 18th among the 20 schools.
The Pacers were ousted on day two of the South Fraser playoffs after a heartbreaking five-set loss to the Seaquam Seahawks. The hosts jumped out to a two set lead (26-24, 25-22) only to see the Seahawks roar back to win the next three including 15-13 in the finale.
Delta entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed in the 12-team event but was upset by No. 6 and eventual silver medalist Fleetwood Park in the quarter-finals (25-20, 25-22, 25-20). The Pacers rebounded with a straight set consolation win over Kwantlen, setting the stage for the match-up against Seaquam. Top ranked and defending B.C. champion Earl Marriott rolled to tournament honours. Richmond’s Steveston-London Sharks placed third with a straight set win over Fraser Heights. Seaquam (No. 14) and Semiahmoo (No. 16) are also headed to Langley giving the South Fraser Zone a whopping seventh berths in total.
The Pacers senior girls team headed to McRoberts Secondary for the South Fraser AAA Playoffs as the top seed from the Sur-Del Tier One League. However, the six-team event was dominated by Richmond schools — sweeping the top three positions.
Delta fell in straight sets (25-16, 25-20, 25-12) to eventual silver medalists McMath Wildcats, then dropped the third place match to the Steveston-London Sharks on Thursday night. Top seed McRoberts outlasted McMath in a five-set final.
Senior Sophie Hornby was named a tournament all-star for her strong play.
Meanwhile, the South Delta Sun Devils knew they were in tough in the stacked South Fraser AAAA playoffs and they escaped with a wild card route to provincials.
The seven-team tournament was loaded with provincially ranked teams that battled each other all season in the South Fraser Premier League.
Seeded fifth, Sun Devils opened with a big four set win (25-15, 14-25, 25-22, 25-19) over No. 4 Earl Marriott. The girls then lost in three (25-20, 25-21, 25-18) to No. 1 seed and eventual champion Semiahmoo.
That sent them to consolation play where they fell 3-1 to Seaquam. South Delta will now look to advance to the Langley Events Centre through a wild card playoff.
