The Selkirk Saints Win!

The Selkirk College Saints established a very steady level of play to take the last league match of 2009 from the College of the Rockies Avalanche. Winning 3-2, Selkirk College dominated the play. In the fifth set, Selkirk earned 12 of 15 points while College of the Rockies earned 4 of 13 points. The match scores were 21-25, 25-22, 25-20, 19-25, 15-13.

“Winning 15-13 in the fifth set is always exciting but our team is still making too many unforced errors,” comments Head Coach, Mike Perra. Nine points out of 13 for College of the Rockies were gifts from Selkirk Players. By regularly making these errors at key moments Selkirk allowed the Avalanche to hang around long enough to steal the first and fourth sets forcing the fifth. 
Perra continues, “On a positive note our team did dominate the play. It was clear that the winner would be determined by the Saints play. We earned the last four points with focus, drive and passion and a little bit of luck. It was clear the Selkirk players were not going to let COTR walk out with a win on their own court.”

Notable performances by:

• Tory Zaytsoff – 17 kills, 4 stuff blocks, 1 ace, and 15 digs
  
• Griffin Beaureguard – Libero 14 digs
  
• Eric Neihe – 45 assists, 2 kills and 12 digs
  

On a subjective note. Devon Hughes of Trail BC stepped in for two sets and accounted for 4 stuff blocks.  That is an average of 2 per set. The league leaders are averaging less than one block per set. Mark MacGregor of Castlegar and Justin Niminiken of South Slocan both played very steady and scored at key moments. Both scored 10 and 11 points respectively. Steve Fowlie, a rookie from Prince George, BC, had a fantastic match scoring a total of 15 points.

Selkirk still has a way to go but being able to beat arch rival COTR speaks volumes about how far this program has come in a short time. COTR has been to the playoffs seven of the last ten years. Selkirk has had a program three of the last ten years. 

First published on November 30, 2009