The senior girls volleyball team at Little Flower Academy returned to the court this season with a AAA provincial championship banner and returning strength from the 2012 roster. The Angels are undefeated in eight league games and are ranked 8th in B.C.
“So far this season we’ve pulled out a couple close ones. It’s been good so far,” said head coach Ross Ballard.
They beat Crofton House late last month in a close match when Crofton was unranked — they have since jumped to No. 2 on the AAA tables.
Rankings are only numbers though, said Ballard. Winning close, clutch games is what matters.
“It’s still early in the season,” he said. “It does make a good story because we beat them. This squad is learning what it takes to win tight matches. The little things make that difference in a big game.”
The Angels have reached the AAA final two years in a row (they lost and then beat Seaquam) and the team has depth that will take them through this season and next. This year they are without the experienced talent of Kristiann Mann and Francesca Pietrantonio, who are both attending university.
The core is younger compared to last year and includes outside hitter Nini Breukels and Sarina Trasolini who are both in Grade 11. Breukels also plays volleyball for Team B.C. Jessica Drew and Tehlana Durty-Wingson also return.
“Last year we had five Grade 12s and a really experienced squad,” said Ballard.
The Lower Mainland zone tournament begins the second week of November. Ballard expects his squad is good enough to advance and compete with the best at provincials Nov. 28 to 30 in Delta.
“We’re right there but we have to stay healthy,” he said. “It looks promising still for the next couple of years.”
