Stonepark wins Callaghan girls classic

The Stonepark Tigers have made it three in a row.

The Tigers defeated the Queen Charlotte Coyotes Team One in a close three-game final to win their fourth Callaghan Girls Volleyball Classic on the weekend.

This was the 41st edition of the event, the longest running junior high tournament in Canada. The 12-team event took place at M.E. Callaghan.

The Bible Hill, Truro, Nova Scotia Huskies took the bronze medal, winning 2-1 over the host M.E. Callaghan Cougars. Stonepark won the thrilling final by taking the third set 15-13 after winning the first set 25-23 and losing the second 2523.

In the first game, the Coyotes used a six-point serving rotation by Alyse Crane to take a 17-11 lead. But Stonepark would chip away. A four-point rotation by Jenna Cyr would give the Tigers their first lead of the set, 19-18. Teams would trade points until the set was tied 23-23. After a side-out point by the Tigers gave them a 24-23 lead, Chloe McCabe would serve the gamewinner for the Tigers. Queen Charlotte would take a quick 4-0 lead in the second set but an eight-point rotation by Sydney Lawlor would give the Tigers an 8-4 lead. But Queen Charlotte would not be denied. A five-point rotation by Marie Fogarty gave the Coyotes a 21-19 lead.

The Tigers would battle back to within one of the lead (24-23) but a side-out would give Queen Charlotte a 25-23 win and a tie in the best-of-three match. Queen Charlotte scored the first four points in the deciding set but a five-point rotation by Lawlor would put the Tigers up 5-4.

The game was close the rest of the way with no team leading by more than two points. The Tigers would be up 14-12 and one-point away from the championship but a side-out brought the score to 14-13. The Coyotes could not tie the score with their serve and Stonepark won 15-13.