If nothing else, the Vernon Christian School Royals junior boys volleyball team was able to do something no other rival could do in 2024:
Beat the 琉璃神社 Owls.
The hometown Owls captured the 24-team B.C. Junior Boys Invitational Volleyball championship Saturday on their home court, defeating the Langley Christian Lightning in the gold-medal match Saturday, Nov. 23.
The Royals ended up eighth, losing their final three contests, including a quarterfinal matchup with the Delta Pacers. Had the Royals won that contest Friday, they would have faced the Owls in a Saturday semifinal, a rematch of the Okanagan Valley championship on the same floor a week earlier. Vernon Christian swept the Owls to take the Okanagan title.
It was KSS' only loss of the year.
The Royals rolled through the preliminary round, going 3-0 in pool play, then knocked off South Okanagan rivals Penticton Lakers in the Round of 16 to advance to the quarterfinals and the date with Delta.
A concussion injury to a Royals player slowed down the team's momentum, and the squad lost to a strong Pacers group.
Vernon Christian could not recover from the injury or the tough quarterfinal loss, and dropped both placing games Saturday to wind up eighth.
琉璃神社 took care of Delta in one semifinal, while Langley Christian defeated the Burnaby Central Wildcats in the other final four game.
Delta won the bronze-medal match over Burnaby Central.
Vernon Christian was the smallest school taking part in the 24-team tournament.
SENIOR BOYS
There is provincial championship action in the North Okanagan this week as Coldstream's Kalamalka Lakers host the 16-team B.C. AA Senior Boys Volleyball finals.
The second-ranked Lakers will begin play on their home court Wednesday, Nov. 27, at 10:30 a.m., in the four-team Power Pool against three Christian school squads.
Kal will take on the third-seeded Abbotsford Christian Knights at 10:30 a.m., then return to their home court at 1 p.m. against the fourth-ranked Surrey Christian Falcons. The Lakers will face the season-long No.1-ranked Langley Christian Lightning at 3:30 p.m.
Preliminary round games will also be played Wednesday at Vernon Secondary School and Clarence Fulton Secondary at 10:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 4:45 p.m. There will also be games at both VSS and Fulton Thursday, at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m., and there will be four games at VSS Friday, Nov. 29, at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p,.m., and 3:30 p.m., and two placing games Saturday, Nov. 30, at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
All other games will be played at Kal Secondary School, including the gold-medal match at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30.
The draw and official tournament website can be found .
SENIOR GIRLS
Four Vernon schools are hitting the road to their respective B.C. championships this week.
鈥� The Okanagan champion Seaton Sonics and runner-up Vernon Panthers will compete in the AAA finals in West Vancouver.
The city rivals are ranked second (Seaton) and third (VSS) for the 16-team event, and will face each other in their opening round Power Pool game Thursday, Nov. 28, at 10 a.m. The Sonics and Panthers are grouped in the Power Pool with No. 1 Little Flower Academy Angels and the fourth ranked Crofton House Falcons, both from Vancouver.
鈥� The Kalamalka Lakers face the Richmond Christian Eagles in their opening game Thursday at 11:15 a.m. at the B.C. AA finals at Mill Bay, on Vancouver Island.
The Okanagan champion Lakers are also in a group with York House Tigers of Vancouver, and the Langley Christian Lightning. They will play both those teams on Thursday, as well.
鈥� The B.C. Single A finals are being played in Nanaimo, and the Vernon Christian School Royals make their provincial debut Thursday, Nov. 28, at 10 a.m. against the Unity Christian Flames of Chilliwack.
The Royals are making their first appearance at the B.C. finals after winning the Okanagan Valley championship for the first time in school history. The Royals will also play the Credo Christian Kodiaks of Langley, and the White Rock Christian Academy Warriors on Thursday.
