Mariners first at PAN Classic

Nick Greenizan

Sports Reporter

The Earl Marriott Mariners senior girls volleyball team scored a big win on home turf last weekend, taking top spot in the annual Peace Arch News Classic.

The Mariners, who finished first in their pool after Friday’s contests, defeated the Clayton Heights Night Riders – coached by tournament organizer and former Semiahmoo coach Gord Houchen – 2-0 (25-18, 25-14) in the finals Saturday afternoon.

“We just seemed to run out of gas in the final,” Houchen said, of his team’s tilt with EMS.

“EMS played really well. They had a strong attack going from everywhere and hit the ball well.”

The tournament, which was held at Semiahmoo, Elgin Park and Earl Marriott secondaries, also features the Semiahmoo Totems senior girls and Marriott’s junior girls squad.

After a first-place showing in pool play, the Totems ended up 11th. The EMS juniors placed 13th out of 18 teams.

Tournament MVP honours went to Mariners’ Elisa Wolfe, while teammates Brianna Beamish and Sam Amosi were named to the all-star team.

The Mariners, fourth in B.C. senior girls quad-A rankings heading into the tournament, now prep for this weekend’s Coquitlam RCMP Red Serge Classic, which will feature provincial powers Handsworth (ranked third), Prince George (eighth), and double-A No. 1 team, Timberline.

Senior boys

Like their senior girls counterparts, Earl Marriott’s senior boys squad is also having a successful season – they’re currently ranked second among B.C.’s triple-A schools.

The Semiahmoo Totems are also highly ranked, just one spot back of their EMS rivals.

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