The Chemainus Cougars senior girls easily played their best volleyball game of the season Tuesday at Chemainus Secondary School.
They didn’t win it, but the result could have been much different.
Chemainus won a wild first game 29-27 over visiting Brentwood College B and was leading 14-11 in the second game and well on the way to its first match victory of the season. But that’s when the TSN turning point occurred.
Brentwood scored the next seven straight points to go up 18-14 and Cougars coach Cindy Bowden promptly called a timeout to try and get the girls back on track. Brentwood also scored the next point after the timeout to make it 19-14 and the damage was essentially done.
The teams traded points for the remainder of the game, although the Cougars closed within 22-20 at one point before Brentwood pulled away to take the 25-21 victory.
Things didn’t go so well for Chemainus in the deciding race to 15 points. It was tied 3-3 at one stage, but Brentwood gained full command after that for a 15-6 victory to take the match.
“I’d say the first two games were probably the best two games we’ve played this season,” said Bowden after the match. “The last game, we kind of lost it.”
It was a bit disappointing for the girls because they know they’ve improved so much and had an ideal opportunity to put a win in the record books if they could have maintained the momentum in the second game.
Bowden was still pleased with the effort.
“The look on their faces after the first game was priceless,” she conceded.
The pace and the energy of that first game was extremely high. The intensity didn’t quite measure up in the second game and the Cougars simply ran out of gas in the third.
Bowden noted the contributions of the players was quite even all-around.
Katie White and Andrea Brooks had strong games serving and passing the ball. Alexis Belton made her presence felt by working hard to keep the ball in play and setting up her teammates.
The gym was loud at times with support for the girls, especially when the action got hectic.
“There was a lovely turnout which was also nice,” noted Bowden.
The girls are back in action Tuesday against Frances Kelsey in Mill Bay.
“Hopefully will have a win next week,” said Bowden.
