Riverview would have been fine, except they kept encountering Tornadoes—Crossroads Tornadoes to be exact.
The Rainy River school was otherwise unbeaten throughout Saturday’s Grade 8 girls’ volleyball tournament at St. Michael’s School here in Fort Frances. But they were derailed by the Tornadoes, who beat Riverview twice to capture the championship.
“Our players stuck to the game plan,” said Crossroads coach Brian Love, whose team handed Riverview its only loss of the round-robin and then beat them again 2-0 in the best-of-three final.
Game scores were 25-12 and 25-19.
“It really came down to our three setters [Jessie Schaum, Laura Richardson, and Justine Chiefson]. They were the key,” noted Love.
“Our offence continued to play well. It’s always a challenge for them to stay disciplined and play their own game,” he added. “But the girls just stepped it up in the playoff round.”
Crossroads, which had finished third in the round-robin, joined Riverview, who had been first, and bronze-medal winners Our Lady of the Way School from Stratton on the medal podium.
Meanwhile, the Grade 8 boys’ tournament, held at St. Francis School here, showcased some homecourt magic as the host Sentinels (“Red”) battled back from a one-game deficit to win 2-1 in the final over Riverview.
Game scores were 12-25, 25-20, and 15-5.
Crossroads wound up with the bronze in the seven-team tournament, which matched the number of squads competing in the girls’ event.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
