Make it an even dozen for the Kelowna Owls.
The 2017 edition of the Owls claimed the school’s 12th consecutive Okanagan AAAA girls volleyball title, knocking off the host Pen Hi Lakers in Saturday’s valley final.
KSS completed valley league play and playoffs this season with an undefeated record, beating the Lakers 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-22) in the gold medal match.
“(Pen Hi) played well but we just came out guns blazing,” said Owls’ coach Tammy Thomas, a native of Penticton. “Both our lines were super strong.
“For me standouts in the game were our middles, Kennedy Dickie and Jalah Ward,” added Thomas. “Brook Tremblay had a great week of training and did a great job for us all weekend.”
Thomas also had praise for Hannah Pagliaro for her passing and the play of Thea Gremmen who she called “a serving machine” in the championship match.
The Owls advanced to the final with a straight-set win over the Rutland Voodoos.
KSS will be the Okanagan’s No. 1 seed, ninth overall, heading into the B.C. AAAA girls championship, Nov. 29 to Dec. 2 at the Langley Events Centre.
The Owls will be grouped in a pool with Handsworth, North Peace and Mission.
“We head to provincials next weekend as the top Okanagan seed, but we know this doesn’t get you any points so we will be going to work this week to improve on the things we can,” Thomas said.
The Mt. Boucherie Bears won bronze at valleys, downing the Voodoos in straight sets (25-20, 25-13, 25-19).
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