POMQUET, N.S. — ANTIGONISH - There were tears of pure joy welling in Katie Anne MacDonald’s eyes as she described the feeling of winning a provincial championship.
She and fellow Grade 12 players – Jessie Clarke and Keisha Gillis – accepted the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation (NSSAF) Division 3 girls’ volleyball banner for the Inverness Academy Rebels Saturday afternoon.
“It took a long time to get here,” Clarke offered.
The veteran trio reflected on their team’s accomplishment, only a few minutes after they swept the Hants North Flames in the title match at École acadienne de Pomquet in Antigonish County.
“It’s been a while,” Gillis said, with a laugh, referring to the last provincial win for the program, which came in 2009.
The three, who started playing together with the school’s junior program in Grade 7, have been key contributors to the return to the top for the perennial volleyball power, which collected 10 provincial banners, including seven in a row, between 1998 and 2009.
After winning only one match in their Grade 10 year, they said the Rebels initiated a turnaround the next season under head coach David MacIsaac.
This season, they captured several tournament victories, along with a Highland region championship, on their way to reaching the provincial pinnacle.
“They showed really, really great leadership,” MacIsaac said of the veteran trio.
He added they were a key to helping mould the championship roster, which includes two Grade 11s, six Grade 10s, one Grade 9 and one Grade 7.
“The kids kept their composure, especially when they faced adversity,” MacIsaac said, when asked about what was the difference in the championship match.
In the opener of the two-set sweep, after a kill from Grade 10 Sarah Ryan, the Rebels were up 9-4 and, once that lead increased to 12-4, the Flames took a timeout.
On the heels of a sensational block at the net from Gillis and Rhonda Hartford, along with a kill from Caris Forance, Inverness led 18-8.
Ryan garnered the final finish in the first set, which the Rebels won 25-12.
“We served better during the season but one thing we were able to do today was get it back quickly,” MacIsaac said.
“I think that was the difference [in the match],” he added.
In a see-saw start to the deciding set, the Flames led 9-8 before a 7-0 spurt – keyed by the serving of Hartford – gave the Rebels a 15-9 advantage.
The Flames showed no quit and evened the set at 17 apiece.
With the threat of a third-and-deciding set looming, the Rebels sealed the deal 25-22.
“We had some players who were a little bit nervous, at times, but we were able to pull through,” MacIsaac said, adding he was “so proud” of the team.
He noted – as often is the case in sports – the semi-final match-up can be the greater test.
“It was intense,” MacIsaac added of their hard-fought three-set victory over the host École acadienne de Pomquet Panthères that punched their ticket to the championship match.
He noted the round-robin battle with the Flames Friday evening was beneficial in preparing for the re-match in the final.
“We had a taste of what they wanted and liked to do,” MacIsaac said.
The head coach and veteran players praised not only the support from friends and family they received throughout the season, including during the provincial championship tournament, but also the chemistry the Rebels shared.
“Everyone has been so great,” Clarke said of the fans.
Noting they are a small school, MacDonald said that is part of why the team is “really close.”
“We are like a little family,” Gillis added.
‘Extremely proud’
While the Rebels eliminated the Panthères in one semi-final, the Flames bested École NDA Aigles of Chéticamp, who went on to win the bronze medals, also in three back-and-forth sets.
“We exceeded our goals for this season – I am extremely proud of our team,” veteran head coach Gerry Cormier said, when asked about the third-place finish.
École NDA defeated Pomquet in straight sets - 25-20 and 25-23.
He explained, over the past four of five years, they have been building their program, which culminated with a “strong year” last season.
With the loss of five senior players heading into this campaign, Cormier said they had to build their team around key returnees Lilianne Cormier and Louise Aucoin.
“They had great seasons and were on fire in this tournament,” he added.
After a “rough start” to the season, Cormier said the team steadied and gained experience, while starting to reach their goals.
With a silver-medal finish in the Highland region play downs and a spot earned in the eight-team provincial tournament, along with a medal finish, he added they “outperformed,” when it came to meeting expectations.
“We came together and peaked this weekend,” Cormier said.
‘So much fun’
During the closing, École acadienne de Pomquet head coach Myla Boudreau praised not only the teams, but also the countless volunteers who contributed to such a successful tournament.
“It was such an incredible weekend of volleyball – so much fun,” she said to applause.
A few moments after the ceremony, she reflected on her team’s season, which included a fourth-place finish in the province.
“I am incredibly proud,” Boudreau said.
She noted that pride in her players included not only their effort and development as athletes, but also as students and people.
On the court, as she noted often happens in sports, her team had “ups and downs” during the NSSAF tournament.
“And we had some moments of greatness,” Boudreau added.
She described this season as a milestone for a program that is going to continue to grow and get stronger.
“We will take memories from this tournament that will last for a lifetime and our players will take with them wherever they go,” Boudreau said.
