By Colin Gallant, special to the News
In a championship game that boasted just about every twist and turn a true final should have, the relentless Westmount Wildcats emerged victorious, beating the Waterdown Warriors in four sets to win the public high school title and cap off an undefeated season.
“It’s a great feeling,” said Westmount starter Tiffany Lindsay after the Feb. 16 championship. “We had fun playing, as well as pushing to win.”
And it was a push. After a nail-biting 25-23 victory in the first set, thanks largely to Lindsay’s serving domination, the loud Wildcat fan base knew they were in for a long night.
In the second set, Westmount’s club players started to take over the game. The Wildcats won the set 25-11 and at no point did Waterdown recapture any of the momentum they had from the first set.
Kills by Wildcats captain Brooke Kinnaird and Grade 11 student Ina Onat were simply too much for the Warriors, who struggled mightily with their passing game in the second set.
However, there’s a reason Waterdown has won the title eight out of the past 10 years. Coming back hard in the third set, the Warriors battled to a 25-16 victory, stunning the large Wildcat crowd.
In what would be the decisive fourth set, great passing and hitting from both teams ensured that the game would come down to the wire. Though both teams clearly wanted the win, Westmount was just too strong, taking the set 26-24.
The win gave Westmount their first title since 1983. Waterdown beat Saltfleet three sets to one last season for the title.
In the junior girls final, the Westdale Warriors stopped the Wildcts hopes of a three-peat in three straight sets, 25-13, 25-15, 28-26.
Great net presence from Warriors Alexa Scott and Piper McKerlie stifled the strong Wildcat offense.
Westmount finally came alive in the third set, but after storming out to a 23-13 lead, the reigning champions could not close out the game.
Westdale’s win marked their first junior title since 1999.
“It is heartbreaking”, said Westmount coach Sophia Fox.
“It would have been just so sweet to have had that victory, but honestly, I am so proud of our girls.”
