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Duncan Christian wins senior boys volleyball Islands

Lake Cowichan third

Three Cowichan Valley-based senior boys volleyball teams competed against five other schools at the Island finals on Nov. 13-14 with two berths to the provincial championships on the line. 

Duncan Christian School, Chemainus, and Lake Cowichan were in tough against Nanaimo Christian School, Brodeur, Campbell River Christian School, Ucluelet, and Port Hardy at the event, hosted by Duncan Christian School.

"What a fun afternoon of exciting volleyball supported by energizing musicians and an encouraging crowd," said DCS athletic director Tom Veenstra, who was the event's lead organizer.

Led by Island MVP setter Ashten Croswell, first team all-star Grayson Dunn, and second team all-star Tucker Klassen, it was DCS defending their Island title, defeating Nanaimo Christian in the last match, three sets to one (25-16, 22-25, 25-19, 25-18). 

DCS got to the final by placing first in Pool A with wins over Campbell River Christian (25-17, 23-25, 15-10), Ucluelet (25-19, 25-16), and Port Hardy (25-9, 25-7). Campbell River had placed second in the pool, Port Hardy third and Ucluelet fourth. 

Nanaimo Christian had been Pool B's winner, followed by Lake Cowichan, which had wins over Victor Brodeur (26-24, 25-25, 15-11), and Chemainus (25-18, 25-16. Brodeur placed third in the pool while Chemainus rounded out the four.

After Lake Cowichan beat Port Hardy in a quarterfinal (25-16, 25-7), they were set to meet DCS, who'd earned a bye into the semi-finals. DCS was too much for the Lakers, however, who won in straight sets (25-17, 25-16, 26-16) to advance to the finals. 

The Lakers dropped down to the bronze medal game against Campbell River and beat the North Island team in straight sets, (27-25, 25-18, 25-20).

The third-place finish wasn't enough for the Lakers, however, as only the top two teams in the tournament earn berths to provincials.

The 1 'A' boys Provincial Volleyball Championships run Nov. 28-30 at the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford and will feature DCS and Nanaimo Christian Schools.