St. Anne's Academy senior girls 'A' volleyball team in Kamloops with coach Chandra Mallais.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Chandra Mallais

Volleyball players and their coaches at a Kamloops high school are scrambling in excitement to secure travel plans after winning spots in provincials.

Both the St. Ann’s Academy senior ‘A’ girls and senior ‘A’ boys teams earned spots at the provincial championships after the regional playoffs in the Okanagan, Nov. 18 and 19. 

“As far as I know this is the first time the senior girls have qualified, so to have both teams qualify in the same year is unheard of,” said athletic director senior girls volleyball team coach Chandra Mallais.

Both teams excelled at the west high school zones championships, qualifying them to compete at the regional championships where both earned second place in their competitions.

At the end of the month, the senior boys are heading to Duncan while the girls are going north to Prince George for their provincial tournaments.

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Mallais is working to secure motels and find a second bus.

“The school only has one bus, this is an extremely rare scenario,” she said. “I’m prepping transportation and getting hotels in order, we’ll be there for four nights. I’m also setting up practices and hopefully some exhibition games for the week.”

St. Ann's Academy senior boys 'A' volleyball team in Kamloops with coaches Shannon Litke & Aaron Watson.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Chandra Mallais

Mallais said the senior boys are hungry for redemption after qualifying for the provincials last year but not getting a chance to play due to major roads to the coast being washed out.

“They want to make a name for themselves,” she said. “Their teamwork is their number one strong suit and their hitting and serving is strong. There are a few things we need to work on, but they are hungry for the win and want to bring home a medal.”

Mallais said the girls team worked hard to win one tight, three-set game after another at the regionals and she has never seen the team so excited to be heading to provincials. 

“They have never been before,” she said. “Seven girls are proud they will be representing St. Anne’s academy at this level.

“We are all excited to have our teams attending provincials and to show everyone that St. Ann’s Academy has amazing athletes and coaches.” 

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Without much time to do any fundraising, the school is looking for sponsors to the events to take the financial burden off of families, three of whom have a child on each team.

Both St. Ann’s Senior Boys and Senior Girls teams finished second and will be heading to Provincials Dec 1-3.

Senior Girls Volleyball Provincials are in Prince George at Cedars Christian School.

Senior Boys Volleyball Provincials are in Duncan at Duncan Christian School.

Provincial events will be live streamed here.

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