On March 16, the PHS Cadet girls volleyball team’s season came to an end after falling, in the finals of the RSEQ division 2 playoffs, to the St. Joseph Zenith by a score of two sets to nil.
Despite their loss in their final game of the season, it was still a successful year for the girls, as the team accomplished a lot of things to be proud of, including a huge 2-1 semi-final victory versus the Philemon Wright Falcons.
After winning pool D of Division 2, with a few narrow wins over L’École Secondaire du Versant, des Lacs and L’Érabliere, the girls moved onto the semi-finals for a competitive matchup versus the Philemon Wright.
The semi-final game was highly intense and tightly contested, according to Luke McClaren, the Panthers’ head coach.
Having met Philemon Wright several times during the regular season, PHS was confident going into the game against a familiar foe and determined not to back down until the very last point.
“The girls were in it right until the end,” said McClaren. “They really put on a good show.”
After trading the first two sets with the Falcons, the Panthers beared-down and clawed their way to a 2-1 win, effectively punching their ticket to the championship game.
At the helm of a tight-knit group of players who have trained together for many years, McClaren credited his players’ respective desires to grow and evolve at the sport they love for their on-court success.
“They really try to be very good volleyball players,” said McClaren. “They try to learn and they always try and show when the game is really important, that they’ve learned that they’re extremely good players. I’d say that our team dynamic was the driving force.”
Considering the numerous disadvantages that PHS athletic teams face compared to other schools, including inconvenient traveling distances, low funding and less students to choose from, McClaren said the season was a significant accomplishment for the school and that the team, the coaches and the parents are very proud of.
“For us to get there was a big accomplishment,” said McClaren. “It was a huge deal. There are schools that are a lot bigger than us, we’re at always at a disadvantage with traveling. It’s just nice to get there and show that we’re a sports school.”
by J.D. Potié
SHAWVILLE March 16, 2019
