Knights Win Silver
Saturday Nov. 28, the Renfrew County Knights Volleyball Club hosted its first OVA tournament at Fellowes High School. This OVA Provincial Cup attracted teams from Ottawa, Kingston, and Clarington.
The Knights 15U Black Team had been training hard to prepare for its first big tournament. The players held a distinct advantage over the other teams, being familiar with the courts and the facility. The Knights started off the day playing Ottawa Fusion Purple, a newly-formed team taking the match easily in two sets (25-14, 25-14).
The Knights struggled to organize on unexpected balls but managed to capture a close 27-25 win and the second set 25-23. The Knights were now in first place in their pool, meaning they would face the Clarington Grizzlies in the quarterfinals.
The Knights didn’t know what the Grizzlies would bring to the court, but strong serving from all the Knights lead to a win in the first set 25-14 and the second 25-10. The undefeated Knights were up against the also undefeated Northumberland Breakers, a strong team that the Knights had faced last season.
The Knights went into the match confident and determined to move on to the gold medal match. But a shaky start gave the first set to the Breakers 25-19. Determined to win in front of the hometown crowd, the Knights fought hard to push the Breakers and took the second set in a nail biting 27- 25 victory. The Knights kept the fans on the edges of their seats in the third and deciding set and defeated the Breakers 15-8.
The Knights now faced the tough Ottawa Fusion Red Team in the final. Fatigue and a strong opponent was too much to overcome for the Knights as they succumbed in two straight sets (25-4, 25- 14).
The Knights ended the day winning their first OVA medal, and a silver finish which placed the Knights in the top 24 teams in Ontario. They will be moving up to the Championship Division at their next tournament on Jan. 16
The Daily Observer
