It wasn't the first-place finish they were aiming for, but the U13 Rhinos received some redemption when the girls volleyball team defeated the White Pandas club in the bronze medal match to claim third place overall at the division I provincial championships in Calgary.
With the bronze medal finish at provincials, the Rhinos finished the season with a medal at each premier-level tournament the club entered.
“We're really proud of this group of girls,” said head coach Scott Cameron. “This was the first year for the U13 Rhinos and we held our own and actually had a lot of success against the top teams in the province.”
The Rhinos lost in the finals at the first premier tournament of the season to rival club 403 Selects, to take home silver medals.
In the second premier tournament, the Rhinos lost in the semifinals but won the bronze medal match, which ranked the girls in third place at the division I level heading into provincials.
At provincials in Calgary, which were held April 28-29, the Rhinos were on a mission.
The girls ripped through round robin matches to finish first in their pool.
The momentum continued as they picked up another victory in the quarter-finals, which set up a semifinal match with 403 Selects.
Cameron said his girls were pumped up and looking for redemption against the rival club.
But a slow start and a near-perfect game by 403 stopped the Rhinos in their tracks.
With the loss the girls moved to the bronze medal match, facing another rival, White Pandas from Edmonton.
The Pandas defeated the Rhinos at the previous premier tournament and again with a chance at redemption, it wasn't hard to get the girls pumped up for the bronze medal match, said Cameron.
“Their intensity was through the roof and they really came out to play in their final match of the season.”
The Rhinos defeated the Pandas in straight sets and the celebration was on.
“You could see the girls were really happy about this one,” said Cameron. “They deserve a lot of credit for the year they just had. We're really proud of what they accomplished this season.”
