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Sylvan Lake Wave 18U won gold at Nationals May 6-8th!
The Wave were 3-3 in Division 3 pool play and went into Tier 3 playoffs beating Yellowknife 25-18, 25-21 in the quarter finals and Olds Jr. Broncos 25-21, 14-25, and 15-09 in the semi-finals.
This set stage for their win in the finals against Bonnyville Lady Rhinos 25-20, 21-25, 15-13.
Coach Wayne Halliday said the Jr. Broncos match really put the team to the test being down 4-16 in the second set with the Broncos having all the momentum. “Alicia Daniels, Maddie McDonald and Erin McFadden were sent in to stop that momentum and they went point for point giving us time to gain our composure back. It was a key moment as we went on to win in the third.
“Going into the finals I saw some of our best and most exciting volleyball of the year — after splitting the sets and going into the third the Rhino’s had the momentum, it was 7-10 and time out was called. Side out by Rhino’s brought us within two with Heather Watson getting the next kill off an incredible dig by Harper Elwood and was setup by setter Brookelynn Louma with the tying point coming from a solo block by middle Anna Carlson.
“The back court play by libro Talissa Munce gave us the edge we needed with the score at 13-13 and with a side out by the Rhino’s it set up the final play with a defensive pass from Rachelle Gwozdz going to Brookelynn Louma to Tenal Muford for the win.
“It was our efficiency with no errors and still being aggressive that pushed us through for the win, 14 serves attempted with only 1 error and 19 attacks with eight kills with no errors it was a great team effort,” said Halliday.