Second straight B.C. volleyball title for Belmont senior girls

The Belmont Bulldogs pulled off a repeat provincial 4A senior girls volleyball championship on Saturday, defeating the Handsworth Royals in three straight sets to complete the cherished back-toback titles at Langley Events Centre.

Savannah Purdy was named the tournament’s most valuable player as the Bulldogs downed Handsworth 25-12, 25-16 and 25-16.

“Our goal today was to stay calm,” Purdy said afterward. “We’ve been playing together for a real long time, so we’re good at calming each other down when we’re on the court and playing our system as a team.”

They played it to perfection all week as Miranda Cyr and Taylee Pomponio were named first-team all-stars, while Gracie May was named to the second all-star team. Pomponio and May will return next season along with two others, including Jocelyn Sherman.

Earlier in the day, the Bulldogs swept Semiahoo in three sets in the semifinal. Earl Marriott picked up the bronze, with Semiahoo finishing fourth as the same teams finished in the top four placings as last season.

“We are repeat champions. It’s fantastic,” said Belmont coach Mike Toakley. “It’s very rewarding for this group of girls that have worked so hard to make it happen all over again. The goal right from when the last ball fell last year was to come back and do it again.”

In 3A boys’ play, Dover Bay defeated Royal Bay 25-14, 26-24, 25-18 before losing to Seaquam in the quarter-finals. Seaquam had defeated Oak Bay 23-25, 29-27, 27-25, 25-21 in the championship draw.