The “Come Back Queens” is what the Salmon Arm Secondary Jewels Grade 10 Volleyball team should be called after competing in the annual West Kelowna 16-team tournament last weekend.
The Jewels did not get off to a strong start in the tournament as they dropped their first three matches to tough opposition from Kelowna Christian, Constable Neil Bruce (C.N.B.) and George Elliot.
The opening defeats served as wake-up call for the Jewels as their play improved dramatically from the previous day.
After finishing at the bottom of their pool, the Jewels came out Saturday morning versus Penticton Secondary, the number one ranked team from the other side of the draw.
The Jewels were not able to overcome the Lakers, but they remained competitive throughout the match.
In the second game on Saturday the Jewels faced off against Kelowna Christian for the second time in as many days. In a reversal of roles the Jewels came out on top showing vast improvement and team cohesion as they won by 10 points in each set.
In the Jewels’ final match of the tournament they would again face off against C.N.B., who defeated the Jewels by an eight-point spread in both sets on Friday.
After dropping the first set against C.N.B., the tension was high amongst the Jewels players.
The Jewels got off to a rough start in the second set as they fell behind by eight points.
But, they flipped the game on its head when Emily New and Jaden Turner went on an incredible serving streak of 12 points.
Power forwards, Mackenzie Fitt, Kaitlin Munro and Brenna Isaac chipped in with strong play at the net as the Jewels took the second set, forcing a third. The Jewels coolly won the third set 15-11 thanks in part to the serving run of Katie Kalke, as the Jewels finished ninth in the tournament. Brenna Issac was tournament MVP.
Their next game is tomorrow at the Jackson Campus gym starting at 4 p.m.