The Argyle Pipers senior girls volleyball team put on a powerful display to win the B.C. AAAA title over the weekend in Cranbrook, dominating the competition to claim the school's first ever provincial volleyball banner.
The Pipers, boasting an entire starting lineup made up of Grade 12 players, only dropped one set while bashing their way to seven straight match victories to take the title. The clincher came in a 3-0 sweep over the No. 2-ranked Riverside Rapids from Port Coquitlam.
The win capped off a stellar run for the core members of the team that started five years ago when they first reached Argyle as Grade 8s. They've stuck together since then, winning a number of North Shore and Lower Mainland banners along the way. This season they topped off their careers with a triple crown, winning the North Shore title, Lower Mainlands and provincials. Through their three playoff tournaments the team lost a grand total of two sets.
"This team has been a really special team from the get go," said Kathy Finch, Argyle co-coach along with John McGowan. "It's very exciting for these girls to win the school's very first provincial volleyball banner. . . . The girls have earned their spot on that trophy for sure. They put a lot of time into volleyball."
In the provincial final the Pipers showed their muscle by taking the first set 25-14, but were pushed in the second set as Riverside took a 24-23 lead. Staring down numerous set points, the Pipers hung on and finally claimed a 29-27 win to take a 2-0 stranglehold in the match. The team stayed cool even while they were in danger of losing the set, said Finch.
"The girls were still playing with a lot of composure," she said. "We talked about playing our game, keeping our plan in focus. They didn't get flustered or worried."
The third set was a victory parade as the Pipers pounded their way to the title, finishing the match 25-14, 29-27, 25-13.
"In the third, they knew," said Finch. "The other team was a little bit deflated I think. They still rallied hard, they played hard against us, but we just knew we had it."
The match ended with a big pile of ecstatic Pipers on the floor.
Outside hitter Anna Price was named MVP, recognition for a tournament spent smashing big kills from all over the court.
"She had a great tournament," said Finch. "She hit well for us all season long. . . . She can hit from back row, she can hit from the front row, she's a very strong hitter."
Outside hitter Kendra Finch, Kathy's daughter, and middle blocker Sarah Haysom were named to the tournament first all-star team.
"They really brought our team competitiveness," Kathy said of Haysom and Kendra. "They were doing everything well, especially in that last day. I don't think we could have done it without their intensity on the court."
With a floor full of seniors, every Piper played their part to near perfection, said Kathy Finch. Price, Kendra Finch and Haysom were joined in the starting lineup by setter Katie Wong, libero Hannah Barr, middle Keeley Bell and right-side hitter Meghan Koven. Argyle came into the tournament with a reputation as a big hitting team, but they did the little things well too.
"Everyone knew their roles and they were able to execute," said Finch. "We did a really good job of passing. . . . In the last game our blocking was what was shutting down Riverside. We were very strong, we were double blocking the middle and able to get strong blocks on the outside. That really was amazing."
The Pipers started the year as the No. 1-ranked AAAA team in the province, a ranking they kept throughout the entire campaign. There was pressure on them coming into provincials but the team handled it well, said Finch.
"When you go in No. 1, there's only one place to go. We basically had to be 7-0 to win the tournament. That's always hard to do. But coming in No. 1 to provincials gave us a nice draw but it also was a little bit of pressure. You can't lose any matches. . . . We were able to pull it off. It was an amazing team effort."
Argyle's toughest test was actually in the semifinals against their old frenemies from Handsworth. The Royals fielded a younger, smaller squad than the Pipers this year but they were the only team to win a set against Argyle at provincials.
"It's always competitive versus Handsworth," said Finch. "They were amazing with their pickups. They're just one of those teams that can get every ball back."
Handsworth and Argyle were tied at one set apiece heading into the third when they played one point that swung the match. Finch, Haysom and Price took turns blasting monster spikes that the Royals kept digging up, before finally Argyle finished off the point.
"We finally got the kill after four huge attacks," said Finch. "That point just said that we were going to take the game. Handsworth is a strong team, defensively they don't let anything land on their court. That can sometimes be tough to play against, but I think our block and our hitting was stronger in the end."
The Royals went on to lose 25-22, 26-24 to Kelowna in a tight bronze medal match. "Handsworth is a young team," said Finch. "They have next year as well. They can put that in their back pocket."
The Pipers will be the young team next season as this year's squad featured only four Grade 11 players who could return to look for a repeat.
"It'll be a very different team next year," said Finch. "But they're excited about coming back."
They all, however, will have golden memories from this season to share. After collecting all their hardware Saturday night, the Pipers were faced with a long ride back across the mountains to North Vancouver. It's normally a tough trek, but those bus rides are a lot sweeter when there's a banner on board.
"It was a pretty exciting bus ride," said Finch with a laugh. "Even though we had a 12-hour bus ride in front of us — it was a pretty happy ride."
