The Abbotsford Christian School Knights senior boys volleyball team proved to be the best in the province on Saturday.
ACS took down the George Elliot Coyotes 3-1 in the AA provincial final inside the Langley Events Centre to earn the title.
After losing the first set 28-26, ACS took the next three (25-23, 25-21 and 25-18) to avenge the club’s loss in last year’s final.
“I told them it is not our day to quit playing no matter what because we have done that in the past (where) we have chose to stop playing,” said ACS coach Anthony Jansen. “This is an opportunity to not quit and keep fighting and that is what got us through the game.”
It’s the first-ever provincial AA banner for the senior boys team, as they last won a provincial banner title in the A tier back in 2014.
ACS player Cole Brandsma, who recently committed to the UBC Thunderbirds volleyball team, was named the tournament’s most outstanding player. Knights players Conner Piers and Brendan Visser were both named second team tournament all-stars.
The Knights finished first in Pool B during round robin play on Wednesday, beating Surrey Christian (2-0), Kelly Road (2-1) and Richmond Christian (2-0).
ACS opened the playoffs on Thursday morning with a 3-0 win over Lambrick Park, and then later that day beat crosstown rival the MEI Eagles 3-2 to reach the final four. The Knights then defeated Langley Christian 3-1 on Friday to move on to the provincial final.
The MEI Eagles, who fell in the quarterfinals to ACS, finished fifth in the province at the event. MEI went 1-2 in pool play, but then pulled off a big win over St. Michaels in round one of the playoffs. The Eagles then beat Kelly Road and Surrey Christian in placement games to earn the fifth overall ranking.
MEI’s Jackson Klaassen earned a first team tournament all-star nod for his efforts.
Over in Burnaby, the MEI Eagles senior girls volleyball team finished fourth in the province for the AA tournament.
MEI closed off the tournament with a 2-1 loss to the St. Thomas More Collegiate Knights on Saturday.
The girls dominated the pool play on Thursday, winning all three of their games in just two sets. MEI then opened the playoffs with a 3-0 win over Kelly Road and a 3-1 win over WPGA on Friday.
The team’s title hopes ended on Saturday morning after falling 3-1 to York House.
Meanwhile in Powell River, the Bateman Timberwolves senior girls volleyball team placed 15th in AAA.
For more on all the teams, read Wednesday’s print edition of the Abbotsford News.