16U Boys Win Bronze at McGregor Cup
The 16U boys have played some really competitive volleyball this season against 16U and 17U competition. Unfortunately, there has been little success other than being competitive until this weekend. The team improved steadily throughout the day, with steady serving, more consistent passing, excellent setting, stellar power hitting, good blocking, and establishing a strong, middle hit attack. A total team effort with all players contributing resulted in our first medal of the season, a bronze.
Our first match, in pool play, was against the ACTS Elites. The team played competitively but faded at the end to lose our first game 22-25 and then struggled in a 14-25 loss. Next up was a feisty Markham 15U team who took the Preds by another close, competitive loss of 22-25. It was beginning to look like another repeat performance of previous tournaments with little to show for our efforts. However, the boys persevered with a new determination and dominated the younger Markham team 25-11. Next up was our old nemesis, the Barrie Elites, who eliminated us in Provincials last year and defeated us in an earlier tournament this year. Carrying the momentum forward from our last game, the Preds took the Elites 25-16 and 25-22 to capture second place in our pool.
In playoff action, the boys took on a talented Mac 15U team and this would prove to be a thrilling quarter final match! For the second time in a row, we were able to win a tight game 25-22, lost 25-27, and went down 2-7 early but refused to lose and came back to win an 18-16 nail-biter. In semifinal action, the Preds couldn’t get on track and lost
14-25 and 19-25 to the eventual champion, Chatham Ballhawks. Bronze medal action featured the Guelph Grizzlies and the Preds. A solid team effort resulted in a first game win of 25-19. The Grizzlies bounced back in game two to take a commanding 24-19 lead until the Preds rallied back on good defense and strong serving to serve out the match 26-24.
Go Preds Go!
