Championship dedication
Come-from-behind victories for Souris Spartans en route to winning PEISAA Senior A Girls Volleyball League championship
Resiliency is a word that fittingly describes the Souris Spartans’ run to the P.E.I. School Athletic Association Senior A Girls Volleyball League championship.
The Spartans captured their first provincial title since 1989 with back-to-back come-from-behind victories in the home gymnasiums of their opponents.
“Everybody contributed, everybody had a role to play and everybody did what I asked of them,” said Spartans head coach Margo Robertson. “I am so proud of them. It was an exciting time, and they worked hard to get there."
Robertson said every team begins the season wanting to play in the final. The Spartans were no different.
"I said to the girls before we started, 'We are here because of you, and this is what you did,’ said Robertson. ‘You did this all year, and this is what you wanted, so have fun and enjoy it because this is what it’s all about.’
“They sure did.”
The road there wasn’t an easy one.
The Spartans began the
post-season with a 3-2 loss to the Charlottetown Rural Team Two Raiders in the East Division final that determined seeding for the provincial playoffs. After Souris won the first two sets 25-20, 25-22, the Raiders rallied to win three straight sets – 2511, 25-19, 15-10.
That meant the Spartans had to go on the road against the defending-champion Kinkora Blazers in a semifinal match on Nov. 4. Souris dropped the first two sets 2624, 25-18 but refused to quit and, with no room to lose any more sets, promptly won 25-12, 25-10, 15-9 to take the match 3-2.
“We didn’t want to see (the Blazers),” said Robertson. “They were the top seed and won the Island last year, and I know how good they are. We knew we were in for a battle when we got there.
“What an amazing match that was. They are an amazing team. I said to the girls it was like I was watching them play triple-A. It was that good.”
FINAL
In the gold-medal match on Saturday afternoon, the Spartans again fell behind after losing the first set 23-25. The Spartans answered back – while granting Robertson a wish – and won three straight sets, 25-10, 25-18, 25-21.
“One of the timeouts I said to the girls, ‘This has been great, but I’m tired of coming from behind. Can we start on the top for a change? You are giving me too much stress here,’” said Robertson. “They seem to thrive under pressure, there is no doubt about it.”
Charlottetown Rural head coach Sophie Duguay said Souris came to play and described the final as a great match.
“They definitely deserved the gold medal,” said Duguay. “Our girls played as well as they could. It was not the result we were hoping for, but it is what it is.”
Duguay paid tribute to the Spartans’ team spirit and high energy.
“Even if it was halfway through a point, if they were getting a nice hit, they were yelling,” said Duguay. “That was definitely getting in our heads.”
Souris middle player Jenny Chiasson was named the most valuable player of the provincial championship.
“Jenny brought her Agame,” said Robertson. “Her strong serve, combined with her excellent work at the net, made it hard for Rural to defend.”
The Blazers defeated Ecole Sur Mer 3-1 in the bronzemedal game on Saturday. Scores were 24-26, 25-21, 2517, 25-20.