BRIDGEWATER, N.S. – The Cobequid Educational Centre Cougars have captured their third consecutive crown – and fourth banner in the last six years – after winning gold at the NSSAF Division 1 Boys Volleyball Provincial Championships on the weekend.
The Cougars defeated the number-2 seed Par-en-Bas Sharks in straight sets, 25-16, 25-23 to clinch gold.
The Cougars went undefeated in round-robin match play with straight set wins over number-8 seed Sir John A Macdonald Flames (25-12, 25-10); number-5 seed West Kings Wolverines (25-11, 25-9); and number-4 seed J.L. Ilsley Judges (25-7, 25-7).
In the semifinals CEC upended the number-3 seed and eventual bronze medal winners, Sackville Kingfishers in straight sets, 25-15, 25-8.
The championship win capped an incredible season for the Cougars who pounded out a 54 and 1 won/lost match record that included 10 consecutive tournament victories.
Leading the way for the Cougars were seniors Ryan McEachren (59% offensive serving, 30 defensive digs, and a team high 40% kill efficiency); Dean Berry (91% serving, 5.5 block points); and Sam Lilly (57% offensive serving, 12-to-1 dig to error ratio).
In addition, huge contributions came from Grade 11's Thomas Vickers (74% passing, 14 service points, 5 block points, 30 digs, 26 kills); Sean Gallie (5 block points, 15 digs, 17 kills); Dean Sangster (4.5 block points); and libero Michael Adams (65% passing, 17 digs). Grade 11 setter Austin Atkinson (12 service points, 20 digs) led the team dishing out 85 assists for a 0.436 hitting average.
