Tiebreaker Tension – BT and STM Deadlocked at 12-1, Season Finale Will Decide First Place
By Larry Moko
With one game remaining in the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic senior girls’ high school volleyball schedule, first place is still up for grabs.
The Bishop Tonnos Titans remained in contention for top spot in the eight-team standings with a 2-0 victory over the visiting St. Thomas More Knights on Tuesday.
The result left both teams with identical 12-1 records.
To conclude the regular season on Feb. 6, Tonnos plays host to the Bishop Ryan Celtics while More is also on home court against the St. Mary Crusaders.
“I’m not even sure,” Maga said when asked about a tie-breaking procedure for first place if it is necessary.
Quarter-final playoffs – 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, 4 vs. 5 -- are set for Feb. 9.
Tonnos captured OFSAA gold at the AAA level in Barrie last season.
“We played really well today,” head coach Alvisia Maga said after her Titans downed the Knights by set scores of 25-12, 25-16.
“The players executed the game plan. They did everything we asked them to do from a tactical perspective.”
The top point-getters for Tonnos were Kennedy Llewellyn, Estelle Buist, Maryn Petrie and Maga’s daughter, Avaya.
For the Knights, the leading scorers were Raquel Lalli and Sophie Clarke.
“We have a lot of work to do,” Knights coach Faith Feeney said.
“Our mind set going into the playoffs has to be forward driven. We can’t think about how we did in the past.”
More won, 2-1, the last time it faced Tonnos. But on that occasion setter Avaya Maga was away in Richmond, B.C. training with Volleyball Canada’s National Excellence Program.
Coach Maga says Avaya is a much improved player since returning from that experience.
“One big thing that the program did was develop her a lot more defensively,” coach Maga said.
On one occasion in the second set against More, Maga blocked consecutive smashes then assisted on a kill by Llewellyn.
“(Avaya) got our hitters the ball and our hitters did a great job.”
The Tonnos coach praised Llewellyn for filling in for an injured teammate at the left side 1 position against Newman and More two days in a row.
“For someone who is normally a beach player and doesn’t get a lot of indoor reps she really stepped up,” coach Maga said. “We definitely relied a lot on her. She’s a great leader and competitor on the court.”
One other Titan who stood out for the coach was libero Buist.
“Estelle is a dependable, reliable player who brings a lot of enthusiasm and energy. In addition to good passing and good serving, that’s what a lot of university coaches look for in a Lib.”
In other games Tuesday, the ACMT Jaguars edged the Cathedral Gaels, 2-1, Newman defeated BR, 2-1, and St. Mary won 2-0 (default) over the St. Jean de Brebeuf Braves.
Photos by Richard Andoga
More photos on the HWCDSB Athletics Facebook page here
