By Nigel Maxwell

Birch Hills celebrates first provincial volleyball title

Dec 6, 2018 | 1:00 PM

The 3A boys’ provincial volleyball championship banner will soon hang in the school gym at Birch Hills, an accomplishment that has never been seen before.

The boys’ team managed to defy the odds this season and finished first at the tournament in Carnduff Nov. 23 and Nov. 24. Head Coach Shannon Vey said the victory means a lot for the community.

“Birch Hill is a basketball town so neither the girls nor the boys have won a gold ever in volleyball,” he said

After going 4-0 during round robin play, the Birch Hills boys’ team would face Kipling in the final and win 2-1. In addition to the school’s first volleyball title, the win was also Vey’s first, who has been coaching 22-seasons. He said even he was a bit surprised by how well the team did.

“This year was supposed to be just a fun year because we only had grade 10’s and 11’s so next year should be just as good,” he said.

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As a showing of support for their team the school held a rally in their gym on Tuesday. A banquet has also been planned for Dec. 12 in the school gym at 6:30 p.m. Vey said he is hoping they can keep the winning going next year but admitted it could be hard.

“We started a football program so it’s at the same time, but if the parents allow it, we allow the players to play both volleyball and football,” he said.

There is plenty of room left for another volleyball banner in the gym. Vey has another six years of coaching left before he plans to retire.

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell