The city鈥檚 new senior boys volleyball champions didn鈥檛 need a stealth horse to ride in on. Everyone saw the David Thompson Trojans coming.
They were undefeated through the regular season and didn鈥檛 drop a single set on their way to No. 1 in the East Division. Their streak held firm through the city championships and DT did not lose a match on their way to the final.
They met the two-time city champions from Eric Hamber in the title game Nov. 1 at Magee secondary and the Trojans powered their way through the Griffins, winning 3-0 without dropping a set.
鈥淭hey all came out excited,鈥� said the Trojans 19-year-old coach and DT alum, Coleman Chan, of his players. 鈥淚 told them, you guys have to expect to lose but must strive to win. If you expect to win, you鈥檒l never be down for any point you get. You鈥檒l be happy for every point you get.鈥�
The Trojans won 25-13, 25-19 and 25-19. The Griffins led the third set by five points but the Trojans tied the set at 18 points apiece.
鈥淭he Griffins are a great team. We didn鈥檛 expect to come here and win three to zero, we just came here expecting a fight. We fought hard and we won,鈥� said Chan.
The final two points were secured by rightside hitter Kalvin Liang and power hitter Kevin Chau, both in Grade 12. In the third set alone, Chau had an ace and three kills, including the game-winning point.
鈥淚 was feeling the pressure from the crowd, our coaches, the bench and of course all the players on the court,鈥� said Chau, who nailed his final crosscourt shot to chants of MVP. 鈥淲e just wanted to win. Nothing else mattered. I can鈥檛 feel any better.鈥�
The bleachers at Magee were packed with supporters for both schools and Chau said the players felt their energy.
鈥淚 think everyone played even better with the crowd. We wouldn鈥檛 have won without the crowd and their cheering,鈥� he said.
He said he elevated his game for the occasion, and his coach agreed.
鈥淜evin played his usual great game [and] had amazing serves, best serves I鈥檝e ever seen him serve to date,鈥� said Chan. 鈥淚t was a great day to start striving.鈥�
Until the final, the Griffins and Trojans hadn't competed. Eric Hamber head coach Darren Chan said the Trojans were the team to beat all season.
"DT is a very strong team. They play well, especially the Grade 12s. They have dominated their grade level since Grade 8. We tried to focus on our game."
The Griffins' 17 players are drawn evenly from grades 10, 11 and 12. The coach said the future is bright for a young team that reached the final this year and still has more playoff games to go.
"We're still building that mental toughness that we work hard to play for in a game like this," he said. "It was a learning experience for them."
Thompson and Hamber both advance to the AAA Lower Mainland tournament.
Van Tech defeated Gladstone 2-3 for third place and Magee shutout John Oliver for fifth.
