Northern Volleyball Powers

By Kelly Sharp

Quesnel Senior Secondary Spartans await volleyball challenge

Success has taken a somewhat different look this season, but the boys from Quesnel Senior Secondary are still a volleyball power in the North. For the second year in a row the QSS Spartans completed a sweep of senior boys volleyball tournaments in Prince George.   The Double A Spartans defeated Triple A North Peace of Fort St John 21-25, 25-21, 15-7 for a fourth tournament victory in Prince George. Impressive showings at both the UBC and Kelowna volleyball tournaments already enhanced the QSS credentials as legitimate contenders for the BC Double A Boys volleyball championship. The Spartans only loss to Double A boys opposition was to number one provincially ranked W.L. Seaton of Vernon.

QSS coach Denny Delaney is even surprised how well the Spartans have performed a year after losing the twin towers. Graduation sent 6-7 Justin Merta and 6-4 Trevor Briggs onto university volleyball. Merta and Briggs keyed the Quesnel attack to a fourth place finish at last year’s 16 team Double A Boys volleyball provincial.

“I didn’t know what to expect this season,” said Denny Delaney, who is into his seventh season as a community coach for the Spartans.

“We struggled getting players out for the team, we had no try-outs.”

Delaney did welcome six grade twelve students including returning power hitter Zack Miller, the Spartans captain. The resounding thud heard around the gym was another kill shot executed by the senior Miller. The offensive gifted Spartan does not shy away from comparing the’06 QSS lineup to last year’s team.

“I think we were more talented last year, but we work harder this year,” said Zack Miller, who experienced a fifth place provincial finish as a grade ten student at Quesnel Senior Secondary.

The Spartans will host the North Central Zone Double A Boys Volleyball championship as heavy favourites November 17^th and 18^th in Quesnel. When asked about expectations at the provincials Coach Delaney modestly predicts a top six finish.

Perhaps added motivation for the boys of QSS is the fact the Spartans run of volleyball success will more than likely come to an end next year. Graduation and no junior program this year will mean a major rebuild for the senior boys volleyball team.

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