WOODSTOCK – The Hernewood Huskies have captured their first-ever P.E.I. School Athletic Association (PEISAA) Intermediate A Boys Volleyball League championship.
Hernewood, which was hosting a PEISAA provincial volleyball championship for the first time, defeated the Vernon River Mustangs 3-1 in the championship match on Thursday night.
The Huskies, the No. 2 seed in the West Division, upset the Montague Storm, the top-seeded team in the east, 3-1 in the semifinals earlier in the day. Vernon River, the East Division’s second seeded, won its semifinal over the top-seeded entry from the west, Ecole-sur-Mer Requins, 3-2.
“We didn’t know what we were up against with the down-east teams,” said tournament most valuable player Dylan Bridges.
“We saw our first-place team (Requins) in the west lose to the second-place team in the east, so we really didn’t know what was coming to us. But we just calmed down, and pulled it together.”
That’s when the Huskies went out and defeated the Storm 25-8, 15-25, 25-22, 27-25 to punch their ticket to the final.
Final
The Huskies took the first set of final 25-17, only to have Vernon River respond with a 25-7 win in the second set. Hernewood then won two close sets, 26-24, 25-22, to capture the provincial title.
The Mustangs had taken a 24-23 lead in the third set, but after a side-out knotted the score 24-24, Manning Hardy served up the two points needed for the win. The lead shifted back and forth in the fourth set. Hernewood grabbed a 19-13 lead, but the Mustangs battled back to go up 22-21. Hernewood got the side-out to tie the score 22-22, and Noah Stanfield then served up the final three points to give the Huskies the title.
“The guys had a really strong showing,” said Mike Isaac, who has been coaching the Huskies for three years.
Graduating players
The Huskies are made up of 12 graduating players and one Grade 8 player. Isaac said he has coached most of the players since Grade 7, when Hernewood returned to boys’ volleyball after a two-year break. The school had previously played at the AA level, where they captured provincial championships.
“This was the year they all came together, and really looked like a fantastic volleyball team,” Isaac commented. He said their adaptability is their greatest strength. “They know their positions, they know where they’re supposed to be on the court and they are very adaptable to what’s going on.
“They scramble a lot, and that’s what you need to see for volleyball.”
Isaac said he hopes the graduating players try out for the Westisle team next year, and continue their progress in the sport.
The Montague Storm defeated Ecole-sur-Mer 3-1 (25-23, 25-22, 19-25, 25-20) to win the bronze medal.
Top Players
PEISAA intermediate A boys volleyball championship awards:
MVP
Dylan Bridges, Hernewood.
All-Stars
Noah Farrell, Ecole-sur-Mer.
Eric Batten, Montague.
James Wood, Vernon River.
Dylan MacLean, Vernon River.
Brandon Gard, Hernewood.
