Coquitlam Ducks Under-17 and U-14 girls teams both captured the bronze medal at at the recent Canadian national club volleyball hampionships.
The Ducks U-17 unit competed in nationals at the Abbotsford Tradex, May 13-15th, when 36 teams from across Canada gathered for the event.
The Ducks opened up against a rival B.C. team, the South Burnaby Metro club in the quarter-finals, and inarrowly edged SBMC by scores of 25-20, 22-25 and 15-8 to advance to the semi-finals.
In the semifinals, the Ducks faced another B.C. team, the Thunder Bolts from Vancouver. In what was one of the most riveting matches of the tournament, the Ducks were defeated in a three-set thriller, 20-25, 27-25 and 12-15.
Re-energized and re-focused, the Ducks came out in the bronze-medal battle with great determination and were able to fend off Canada West from Edmonton 25-17 and 25-17.
"The girls played outstanding all season and should be commended, not only for placing third at provincials and nationals this year, but for their excellent effort, sportsmanship, teamwork and determination," said Ducks coach Bryan Gee.
The Ducks' Mallory Sall and Katie Woo were named to the first all-star team.
Meanwhile, the Ducks U-14 unit also had a very successful national championship competing in Saskatoon, May 6-8. The girls entered the tournament filled with confidence after winning provincials the previous weekend.
In the quarter-finals, the Ducks faced the NAVC Pandas from Edmonton and were able to stay poised to prevail, 26-24 and 25-17. In the semifinals, the Ducks met the No.1-ranked Winnipeg Shock and, in an unbelievable match featuring several spectacular rallies, fell 25-17 and 25-19.
The Ducks then played the Vancouver Thunder and came away with the bronze, winning by a 25-16 and 25-19 margin.
