EDMONTON — The Lindsay Thurber Raiders put together a season that can only be called golden.
The Raiders, who were ranked No. 1 for most of the season in the Alberta 4A boys’ volleyball division, put together a perfect run during the Golden Anniversary of the Alberta high school championships at the Saville Centre.
The Raiders captured the first-ever 4A boys’ championship for Red Deer with a 25-21, 24-26, 25-20, 25-17 victory over the Bev Facey Falcons of Sherwood Park Saturday evening.
The Falcons and Raiders battled most of the season for the top ranking in the province with the Falcons taking over the top rung from the Raiders in the final couple of weeks.
However, in the end it was the LTCHS squad that proved to be deeper when it counted the most.
“I think we have a similar level of talent, but ours is spread out a bit more,” said Raiders head coach Terence McMullen. “This was a total team effort. Some of our guys didn’t play as much as others, but when they was counted on they came in and did exactly what we asked of them. And they were always supporting the guys on the court.”
Parker Cook was one such player, who came off the bench in a tight situation in the final and slammed home a point from the right side, and Jarrett Zilinski came up with 10 digs.
“Every time they came through,” said McMullen, who was able to run a diversified offence.
“Matt (setter Graham) was able to spread the ball around, using everyone on offence.”
McMullen gave credit to Grade 10 middle blocker Ben Holmes for an outstanding effort against the Falcons six-foot-nine middle blocker.
“A tremendous effort. He did such a great job it opened up our outside hitters,” said McMullen, whose team may have won the match in the third set.
“We went on a roll against their best rotation with all their big hitters in the front,” he said. “That seemed to frustrate them and we carried that momentum into the fourth set. We took control, going up 21-11, and then put it away.
“I couldn’t be more proud of a group of guys. This has been years in the making. I’ve coached some of these kids since they were in U14. They put together an undefeated season in Grade 9 and won the JV program with a lot of them in Grade 10. Last year we lost in the zone playoffs to Hunting Hills and that was probably good for us. It taught us things about putting in the effort to learn the game.
“This was rewarding and to make it even better not only are these kids outstanding athletes, but outstanding people. They respect the game and respect their opponents.”
While the Raiders needed a strong effort against the Falcons they needed even more against the Edmonton Christian Lions in the semifinal, winning 25-20, 25-22, 19-25, 16-25, 18-16.
“We played well the first two sets, but they never gave up and kept coming at us, while I think we let down a bit,” said McMullen. “But late in the fourth set we went on a bit of a run and that carried over to the fifth set. We were back into it and executed when we needed to.”
Meanwhile, the Notre Dame Cougars won the consolation title with a 15-25, 25-20, 15-10 win over the Foothills Falcons of Okotoks.
The LTCHS Raiders also won the consolation title on the 4A girls’ side, beating Holy Trinity of Edmonton 25-21, 27-29, 15-11.
“Obviously we would have liked to have done better, but we’re satisfied with the consolation title,” said Raiders head coach Kirsten DeZutter, who has four provincial 4A girls’ titles to her credit.
The Chinook Coyotes of Lethbridge downed the Strathcona Lords of Edmonton 3-0 in the final.
• The 3A girls saw both the Lacombe Rams and H.J. Cody Lakers of Sylvan Lake lose in the quarter-finals.
The Rams lost 28-26, 13-25, 9-15 to Ardrossan and the Lakers dropped a 3-25, 21-25 decision to St. Albert Christian.
Eagle Butte of Dunmore downed St. Albert 25-22, 14-25, 20-18 in the final.
Louis St, Laurent of Edmonton won the 3A boys’ title with a 25-20, 25-17 win over Barrhead.
• Central Alberta Christian High School Knights of Lacombe lost 25-18, 24-26, 11-15 to Immanuel Christian of Lethbridge in the 2A boys’ bronze medal game.
Earlier the Knights lost 23-25, 21-25 to Calgary Christian in the semifinals. Calgary went on to down Rundle College of Calgary 25-19, 25-16 in the final.
Spirit River beat Strathcona Tweedsmuir of Okotoks 25-14, 25-20 in the 2A girls’ final.
• Coronation lost 15-25, 18-25 to Bawlf in the 1A boys’ semifinal, then downed Grand Trunk of Evansburg 25-20, 20-25, 16-14 in the third-place game. Bawlf beat Senator Gershaw of Bow Island 25-21, 23-25, 15-12 in the final.
The 1A girls division saw Acme stop H.A. Kostash of Smokey Lake 26-24, 25-21 in the final.
Bawlf took third with a 25-11, 25-23 win over Ecole Heritage of Falher.