Maple Ridge Christian School has a new trophy to add to its case, and is hoping for another as its undefeated junior girls volleyball team prepares for the Fraser North Championships later this month.
The squad of students will be headed to regionals with plenty of positive momentum, having taken first place at the recent Greater Vancouver Independent Schools Athletic Association Junior Girls Volleyball Championship.
Head coach Parker Ormiston said that this was the first time the school had taken the junior girls title in more than a decade, with the team working incredibly hard to only drop one set in the entire tournament.
MRCS Hornets player Sophia Andrushchuk was even named the tournament's MVP, in addition to also earning the team's MVP title.
"I'm so proud of all these girls and what we have been able to accomplish this season, and am looking forward to our senior years to come," said Ormiston.
He explained that it's through a combination of dedication and community support that the girls have been able to pull together the first undefeated junior girls volleyball record in the school's history.
"As a coach who uses team dynamic and relationship building as a baseline for success, it's very noticeable the close-knitted culture and community that has been created at the school," said Ormiston.
The team now has its sights set on the Fraser North Championships, which Ormiston said will be a significantly bigger challenge for the squad.
"As the junior competition combines the public schools – often ranked in the AA or AAA categories – we are often seen as major underdogs for this particular tournament."
But he's confident that this Hornets team has what it takes to beat the odds at the upcoming regional championship.
"I believe after our results this season, every player on our team has managed to find their role on the team, and excel to the best of their ability with each opportunity presented," he said. "To maintain our success next week, we will need to continue moving forward after each point, understanding that the mental component is just, if not more important than the physical component."
The Fraser North Championships take place at Thomas Haney Secondary and Garibaldi Secondary from Nov. 13 to 15.
