16 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2009 Red Devils finally solve Rebels in volleyball final By Jon Kuiperij was going to hit the floor. I can't say enough about our Grade 12s, Monica (Hirano, the team's setter) and Jenny." Aly Torrance and the Oakville Trafalgar Pierce finished the next rally with a hard Red Devils had finally had enough. kill, then served up an ace to pull the Red Losers to the Georgetown Rebels in the Devils to within 12-11. The teams then tradprevious two Halton high school senior girls' ed points before Torrance's spike gave OT a AAA/AAAA volleyball finals, the Red Devils 13-12 lead, and the Rebels were called for a were three points away from a similar fate double hit on the next point. Thursday at Sheridan College. When Georgetown's final pass sailed out Down 12-9 in the third and deciding set, of bounds, it was pure jubilation on the OT OT called a time out to regain side. "We weren't its composure, then scored six "I've never beaten them playof the next seven points to going to lose this ing for OT," said Torrance, who defeat its rivals and win its first year. It was has played senior for the past regional title since 2006. three years. absolute adrenalin "We weren't going to lose and passion." It was also relief for Peterson, this year," said the 17-year-old who took over from longtime Torrance. "It was absolute Oakville Trafalgar's OT coach Maria Seto this seaadrenalin and passion." son. Aly Torrance It was also some clutch hits "It was a lot of pressure. I had by Jenny Pierce and Torrance, fine serving big shoes to fill," Peterson said. "You can't under pressure by Grade 10 student Megan just replace someone like Maria Seto. The Sampson, and unforced mistakes by the girls loved here and she just knows so much Rebels. The game ended on an errant about the game. Georgetown pass. "She may have been here," he added, OT's third-set rally was particularly glancing quickly around the gym. "I just didimpressive in that Georgetown appeared to n't see her. I'm sure, somewhere, she's really have all the momentum. After losing the proud of the girls." opening set 25-17, the Rebels trailed the secPeterson said improved service reception ond game 8-5 before scoring 20 of the final was a key to OT's win, as was limiting 25 points to prevail 25-13. Georgetown then Georgetown star hitter Chelsea Jensen. built its 12-9 lead in the third set by winning The Red Devils' next goal is qualifying for five straight points, prompting OT coach the Ontario Federation of School Athletic MICHAEL IVANIN / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Nick Peterson to call the time out. Associations (OFSAA) tournament. OT will "When I called that time out, they said we visit Hamilton's St. Thomas More Tuesday to TAKE THAT: Oakville Trafalgar's Aly Torrance (right) pounds the ball at Georgetown's Nicole are not going to lose this game," Peterson determine the Golden Horseshoe Athletic Arthurs Thursday at Sheridan College. OT defeated the Rebels 25-17, 13-25, 15-13 to win the Halton high school senior girls' volleyball AAA/AAAA championship. said. "No matter what we had to do, nothing Conference representative for OFSAA. BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR Senior Raiders unable to recover from second-set disaster By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF As the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders accepted their silver medals, several members of the team fought back tears. Just 20 minutes earlier, there had been nothing but smiles on the faces of the Raiders as they looked poised to win their third straight Halton high school senior girls' A/AA volleyball title. Led by the powerful hitting of Tessa Medlock and the blocking of Michayla Caughlin and Jessica Reynolds, the Raiders had cruised to a 25-16 victory in which they never trailed in the opening set of Thursday's championship match at Sheridan College. And then things went horribly wrong. The E.C. Drury Spartans took the first 12 points of the second set and built an unimaginable 21-1 lead on its way to a 25-5 victory. Unable to regroup, the Raiders dropped the deciding set 15-3. "They just sucked the life out of us," said Aquinas coach Peter Szpakowski. "As much as we tried, we just couldn't come back from that." The Spartans came into the final having swept 14 consecutive matches in league play -- including a regular-season victory over the Raiders. However, they lacked Aquinas' big- game experience, and it showed in the opening set. Drury looked confused and struggled to communicate with one another. Meanwhile, the Raiders showed a good mix on offence, taking advantage of Medlock's hitting opportunities when they were available and playing a smart tipping game when confronted with any of Drury's three six-foot players. "They have three girls that can smash the ball," said Szpakowski. "We knew we couldn't go toe-to-toe with them." Although Spartans' coach Kevin Houldcroft said his team knew to expect the tips, his team failed to defend them adequately in the opener. See Drury page 18