Taking something positive from a disappointment is a real underappreciated skill.
The Moscrop Panthers are a team who’ve learned that lesson.
The senior girls volleyball team head to next week’s provincials angling for some spin-off success.
They turned a disappointing result at the Burnaby-New West league playoffs ito a strong showing at the Lower Mainlands, earning a berth to the B.C.s by placing third overall.
“I’ll be honest,” noted Moscrop coach Kim Or. “I was really tough on them. I knew what they could do, but they were a little down from losing (to Burnaby Central in the league playoff final).”
While they launched the Lower Mainlands last week by dropping the first playoff game to Sir Winston Churchill, Moscrop responded and pounded out the next three games to take the match 3-1.
It clinched a top-four finish and a berth to the B.C.s, which run Nov. 29 to Dec. 2 in Langley.
“That was probably their best game (of the year),” said Or. “That was a game we needed to win, but I didn’t tell them that. I think that (first-game) loss was a hangover from the (league) final.”
It propelled them into the semifinal on Saturday against No. 2-ranked Handsworth. And while they fell 3-0 to the Royals, Moscrop powered up for the bronze medal match later in the day, when they downed Van Tech 2-1.
“I told them not to think about third or fourth, just go and play,” noted Or.
All this was accomplished without standout middle power Camilla Di Vito, who suffered a lower body injury in the Peace Arch tournament nearly a month ago.
Her absence has added extra stress to others to fill the gap, but Or hopes she may be able to return sometime at the provincials.
“We’ve been resting her, and she’s going to rehab and there’s been some progress,” remarked the coach. “For us to do well (at the provincials) everyone has to step up. I’m very fortunate that I have 10 players capable of playing at this level, and all 10 will see action in every single set.”
The Panthers lineup is loaded with Grade 11s, as only Mari Wong and Di Vito are seniors who will graduate at the end of the school year.
“We’ve faced adversity but this has been an unbelievable season,” added Or. “There’s been zero (drama).”
