The Revelstoke Avalanche senior boys volleyball team is off to the provincial championships after an undefeated performance at the Okanagan Valley Championships in Penticton. last weekend.
“We’re really happy we made it because its a big step for us,” said team captain Zev Isert.
The Avalanche, who went into the tournament ranked seventh in the province, won all three games in round robin play on Friday. They beat Okanagan Mission, South Okanagan and Vernon Secondary School to advance into the playoffs in first place.
In the semi-finals on Saturday, the boys beat George Elliott in four close sets to make the finals against Okanagan Mission.
“They’ve been our rival team all year,” said Isert.
On this day, the game belonged to RSS, who emerged with a convincing three set win, 25-14, 25-16 and 25-15.
As one parent put it to the team, much like an avalanche they started off the tournament slow and “ended up roaring down the mountain and coming on strong.”
RSS made the provincials last year with largely the same group of players, finishing ninth. This year they go into the tournament ranked seventh in the province, and having ranked as high as fifth this year.
“If we play like we did at this tournament at provincials we should be able to overachieve that ranking,” said Isert.
The provincials take place in Kelowna from Nov. 28, to Dec. 1. The team plans on doing some fundraising before then to help defray the costs of travel.
“They’re just a really excellent group of guys both on and off the court,” said coach Terry Beitel. “They have put it all together and are heading in the right direction and I’m looking forward to seeing how we’ll do at provincials.”