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Provincial win for Unity Christian volleyball girls

The Flames dropped their opener, then didn’t lose again, winning six straight to claim the crown.
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Unity Christian’s senior girls’ volleyball team made history last week, capturing the school’s first ever provincial volleyball title.

The 1A championships were held in Fernie, with the Fraser Valley champions going in as the fourth seed.

After losing their opener in three sets to Kelowna Christian, the Flames won their next two games in Group A.

They toppled Vancouver’s Stratford Hall in two sets (25-14 and 25-19) and downed Elkford secondary school in three sets (25-21, 18-25, 15-11).

That left Unity as a second seed heading into playoffs.

Over the next two days the Flames dumped Lake Cowichan, Nanaimo and Stratford Hall to make the finals and set up a rematch with Kelowna Christian.

This time it was the Flames taking a four-set win and the B.C. title.

With Kelowna only needing one point to win the first set, Melissa Dieleman had a huge block to turn momentum. Unity fought back and won the first set, dropped a close second set but took the final two sets by larger margins of victory.

Grade 11 student Kirsten Kampman was named MVP of the tournament.

Her sister, Grade 9 student Kylie Kampman, was named to the first all-star team.

“The girls played fantastic volleyball through out the tournament. They peaked at the right time and it was the best they played all season,” said coach Laura Kampman. “The girls played with a lot of heart, making unbelievable saves as they dove all over the court.”

In addition to Dieleman and the Kampman sisters, the team includes Olivia Lounsbury, Grace van den Brink, Christine Gouwenberg, Sydneigh Schofield, Amara Koning and Christine Van Ryk.

All of the girls are eligible to return next year and defend their championship.

Find full results online at 2017girlsvolleyball.weebly.com/



Eric Welsh

About the Author: Eric Welsh

I joined the Chilliwack Progress in 2007, originally hired as a sports reporter.
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