Sparwood Spartans Jump Into The Top-10 To Land At No. 4 In Single A Girls Rankings

Volleyball is a sport where it takes six players, playing as one unit, in order to achieve success.

This past weekend, that is exactly what the Sparwood Spartans Senior Girls Volleyball team had as they traveled to Mt. Sentinel Secondary School for a tournament – only six players, although the team’s full roster includes nine players.

The result, the Spartans went 8-0 on their way to winning the tournament and clawing their way back into the BC School Sports single A Girls Volleyball rankings.

“I was a little bit bummed when the first rankings came out and we weren’t listed because we were fifth at Provincials last year, but it’s nice to see that we’re ranked where we are now,” said Tanya Wagner, Spartans Head Coach. “I think the girls deserve it, (being ranked No. 4) especially after this past weekend.

Wagner credits the familiarity a lot of the girls have with each other – most of the girls have played club volleyball together with High Altitude Volleyball Club – and their dedication to the game as two key reasons for the team’s success early on.

She also added, volleyball is the most important thing to them and that really shows in the way they play when they’re out on the court and how they’re always ready to practice early.

And while the Spartans strong start has been a team effort, Wagner highlighted four players in particular.

“We have a super strong offside, Sam Bleich, who it doesn’t seem to matter how she hits it, she gets it down nine-out-of-ten times,” said Wagner. “We have a great setter, Mackenzie Randell, who has played with a lot of the girls for quite a while, so she knows most of the girls. Our middle, Marisa Hogg, works really well with Mackenzie when we decide to run quicks. And our captain is Abby Hughes who plays in the power position.”

Throughout the remainder of the season the Spartans will travel to various tournaments and play mostly single A and AA teams, with the exception being the occasional game against Mt. Baker (AAAA).

Wagner is also looking forward to the Spartans hosting this year’s Zone Championships and feels her team has a real shot of winning it this year. If the Spartans are successful at the Zone Championships they will be off to the Provincial Championships, Nov. 29-Dec. 1st in Nanaimo.

“The aim is to finish better than we did last year.”

Around the Province

Belmont has re-claimed their familiar spot atop the AAAA Girls rankings. So far this year they’ve placed second at the UBC Tournament and first at the VIU Tournament.

Other movers in this week’s rankings include, Kelowna, who jumped to No. 2 in the AAAA Girls rankings after a strong start to the year, which included a third place finish at the UBC Tournament.

After being overlooked in the preseason poll, Moscrop jumps into the rankings to claim the No. 4 slot in the AAAA Girls rankings.

After a win at the UBC Tournament, Little Flower Academy takes over the top spot for AAA Girls.

Another big mover on the AAA Girls side is College Heights, who takes over the No. 5 spot after a strong start to the season.

In the AA Girls rankings, there was all kinds of movement below York House (No. 1) and St. Thomas (No. 2). Four teams, Langley Fundamental (No. 3), St. Thomas More (No. 4), Pacific Academy (No. 7) and West Point Grey (No. 9) all moving into various places of the top-10.

And in the single A Girls rankings, Chilliwack’s Unity Christian remains the team to beat at No. 1.

Below is a look at the rankings.

 

AAAA Girls Volleyball (Oct. 3, 2018)

  1. Belmont Bulldogs (Victoria) (LW-3)
  2. Kelowna Owls (7)
  3. Earl Marriott Mariners (Surrey) (1)
  4. Moscrop Panthers (Burnaby) (NR)
  5. Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers (Surrey) (2)
  6. Handsworth Royals (North Vancouver) (5)
  7. Seaquam Seahawks (8)
  8. South Delta Sun Devils (4)
  9. Oak Bay Breakers (Victoria) (6)
  10. Reynolds Roadrunners (Victoria) (NR)

 

AAA Girls Volleyball (Oct. 3, 2018)

  1. Little Flower Academy Angels (Vancouver) (LW-2)
  2. Crofton House Falcons (Vancouver) (1)
  3. Carihi Tyees (Campbell River) (3)
  4. Dawson Creek Penguins (4)
  5. College Heights Cougars (Prince George) (NR)
  6. Prince George Polars (8)
  7. W. Graham Grizzlies (Chilliwack) (5)
  8. Elgin Park Orcas (Surrey) (7)
  9. Timberline Wolves (Campbell River) (NR)
  10. Nanaimo District Islanders (6)

 

AA Girls Volleyball (Oct. 3, 2018)

  1. York House Tigers (Vancouver) (LW-1)
  2. Thomas Aquinas Fighting Saints (North Vancouver) (2)
  3. Langley Fundamental Titans (NR)
  4. Thomas More Knights (Burnaby) (NR)
  5. Brentwood College (Mill Bay) (7)
  6. Notre Dame Jugglers (Vancouver) (9)
  7. Pacific Academy Breakers (Surrey) (NR)
  8. George Elliot Coyotes (Lake Country) (8)
  9. West Point Grey Wolves (Vancouver) (NR)
  10. MEI Eagles (Abbotsford) (5)

 

A Girls Volleyball (Oct. 3, 2018)

  1. Unity Christian Flames (Chilliwack) (LW-1)
  2. Kelowna Christian Knights (4)
  3. Nanaimo Christian Trail Blazers (2)
  4. Sparwood Spartans (NR)
  5. Aberdeen Hall Gryphons (Kelowna) (7)
  6. Fernie Falcons (9)
  7. Elkford Celtics (3)
  8. Stratford Hall Sabres (Vancouver) (5)
  9. Southpointe Titans (Delta) (6)
  10. Cedars Christian Eagles (Prince George) (8)

 

Volleyball BC is looking to cover the B.C. high school volleyball scene like never before.

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Throughout the high school volleyball season, Volleyball BC will be sharing some of the stories we hear about that are going on in our community. If you know an athlete, coach, referee, volunteer or team we should write about, drop Ian a line at [email protected].