Cougars claim Wolverine Classic
e Cobequid Educational Centre Cougars pulled out a razorthin victory over the free Oaks Axemen to capture the boys’ championship of the 35th annual Westisle Wolverines Volleyball Classic last Saturday.
e Axemen rallied from a 12-8 deficit to tie the deciding set 12-12, but after ve consecutive sideouts, the Cougars finally served up a 16-14 victory.
The Cougars won the final’s opening set 25-20, but Summerside-based free Oaks rallied from a 21-17 deficit to win 25-22 to force the winner-take-all set.
“ at close,” Axemen coach Dale Macdougall said during the medal presentations, motioning with the tips of his thumb and fore finger almost touching.
“We were just a few points away from beating these guys.”
While acknowledging the Axemen did a good job of putting up blocks against the Cougars’ hard hitters in the championship match, he said the well-coached Nova Scotia squad is a smart team and had success tipping the ball up over the block. e Cougars’ Adam Mceachern and the Axemen’s Ben Macdougall were named players of the match in the nal.
“I had been struggling a little bit throughout the rest of the tournament,” said Mceachern, a senior. “It felt good to come out and play a really good game; I thought the whole team played well.
“We’re a school that likes to play with a little energy; it brings up the spirit of the game, and it only adds to the competitiveness of both teams.”
ree Oaks had only two losses in the two-day tournament, both to Cobequid.
In the quarter- nals, Cobequid defeated Colonel Gray 25-15, 2514; Bluefield topped Charlottetown Rural 25-18, 25-14; ree Oaks won 25-18, 25-18 over host Westisle, and West Kings got by Dartmouth 20-25, 25-20, 15-10.
Cobequid got by West Kings 25-14, 25-11 in one semifinal, and three Oaks defeated Bluefield 2510, 25-18 in the other.
Austin Atkinson was tournament all-star and omas Vickers was the most valuable player.