The 91原创 Christian Lightning can only hope for one more crack at the MEI Eagles, preferably in the provincial championship game.
The two Fraser Valley rivals have played a back-and-forth season series all year long and the most recent chapter in the rivalry went in favour of the Abbotsford school as MEI won 3-1 last week (Nov. 14).
The two senior boys鈥� volleyball teams were playing for the gold medal in the AA Fraser Valley championship game at the 91原创 Events Centre.
And after each team won a set 鈥� 25-21 MEI and 25-20 for 91原创 Christian 鈥� the Eagles took sets three and four 25-12 and 25-18.
The Lightning had been the top seed for the Valley championships after taking first place in the division thanks to the teams鈥� most recent meeting, a 3-0 91原创 Christian victory to wrap up the regular season.
鈥淚t has been a good battle all season,鈥� said 91原创 Christian coach Jesse Zuidhof.
鈥淲e just didn鈥檛 put together our best performance (in the Valley final). We had a mediocre performance, one that will motivate us to puck up that level going into provincials.鈥�
The Lightning, as well as the third-place 91原创 Fundamental Titans, will both join MEI at the AA provincial volleyball championships at Kelowna鈥檚 UBC Okanagan campus. The championships run Nov. 28 to Dec. 1.
鈥淭hat was a wake-up call for us that we have to raise our level to the potential we have,鈥� Zuidhof said.
The Lightning have been ranked in the top three provincially all season, along with MEI and Prince George鈥檚 Duchess Park.
Zuidhof likes his team鈥檚 chances, if they play up to their capabilities.
He described the team as prideful of their defence and ball control.
鈥淲e are very well balanced and deep,鈥� he said of his roster, which features six Grade 11s and six Grade 12s.
鈥淲e have a lot of weapons; we don鈥檛 need to rely on one guy. Everyone on the court has the potential to finish points for us.鈥�
Jeremy Hansma, Eli Tolkamp and Mike Gyrpma earned all-stars at the Fraser Valley tournament. 
