The F.P. Walshe Flyers with their championship banner. Back row, from left: coach Grayson Archibald, Demetria McPherson, Lexi Beer, Ashlynn DeKok, Cassie Rippin and coach Denea Beer. Front row, from left: Reese Lichtenberger, Rhyan Poppl, Adalyn Nelson and Presley DeKok.
F.P. Walshe Flyers won three straight matches Saturday to claim the junior high B girls volleyball playoff championship.
The Flyers are Presley DeKok, Adalyn Nelson, Reese Lichtenberger, Lexi Beer, Ashlyn DeKok, Rhyan Poppl, Cassie Rippin, Demitra McPherson and coaches Grayson Archibald and Denea Beer.
Willow Creek Composite high school in Claresholm hosted the junior high B girls playoff tournament on Saturday.
Twelve teams took part in the tournament, and were seeded according to their regular season performance.
The Grade 7 Flyers, who were also in the tournament, hit the court at 9 a.m. Saturday against Crowsnest Pass Panthers.
The Panthers were seeded No. 8 going into the tournament while the Flyers were the No. 9 team.
The first set was a tight battle, with the Panthers edging the Flyers 25-22.
The Flyers staved off elimination in the second set, beating the Panthers 25-19.
The match went to the tie-breaker, which proved to be a battle requiring extra points to decide the winner.
When the last serve was made, the Flyers emerged with a 19-17 upset win and a spot in the next round.
Waiting for the Grade 7 Flyers was the Grade 8-9 Flyers team from F.P. Walshe, who had placed first in the league during regular season.
The Grade 8-9 Flyers opened the match with a convincing 25-10 victory.
The second set was closer, but the Grade 8-9 team clinched the match with a 25-20 win to advance to the semifinals.
The Grade 7 Flyers are Adelyn Van Herk, Asher Pelletier, Kenni Smith, Alexa Van Herk, Lilly Vanee, Jaya Sharma, Faith Hewlett, Emma Smith and Kinsley Herweyer.
The Flyers met host Willow Creek Composite Cobras in the semifinals and were in control throughout, winning the first set 25-17 and the second set 25-12 for a sweep.
F.P. Walshe moved on to the final and a match with J.T. Foster Raiders from Nanton.
The Raiders edged the Flyers 25-23 to open the match, but F.P. Walshe rallied to win the second set 26-24 and force a tie-breaker.
In that third set the Flyers left nothing to chance as they conquered the Raiders 15-7 to claim the banner.
The F.P. Walshe Flyers with their championship banner. Back row, from left: coach Grayson Archibald, Demetria McPherson, Lexi Beer, Ashlynn DeKok, Cassie Rippin and coach Denea Beer. Front row, from left: Reese Lichtenberger, Rhyan Poppl, Adalyn Nelson and Presley DeKok.
