WATERLOO REGION (February 15, 2019) – In straight sets on Thursday night, the St. Benedict Saints senior girls volleyball team rallied together to claim their second District 8 championship in as many years.

Resurrection opened strong in the first set taking a 8-1 lead, however the power attack from grade 12 Olivia Benzin was too much for the Phoenix front row to handle.

Saints’ Gigi Markotic served out five straight points to win the opening set 25-22.

Setter Calista Grant and middle Abby Boorsma kept every set tight for the Phoenix as the score was never out of reach. With a steady attack from the Saints however, Resurrection could not stay ahead.

With strong support from Nahya Dalle Vedove and Madeline Bairos, St. Benedict’s would go on to take the second set 25-22 and the third 25-21.

St. Benedict’s will advance to the AAA CWOSSA championships held in Kitchener-Waterloo on February 21st. Monsignor Doyle will advance to the AA CWOSSA championship while Père-René-de-Galinée will play for the A CWOSSA championship.

The junior championship was a five set thriller with undefeated St. Mary’s Eagles coming back from two sets down against St. Benedict’s to win 16-25, 16-25, 25-19, 25-17, 15-3.

The pairing of Ashlynn Freiburger and Amanda Korn turned on the jets for the Eagles midway through the third set down 11-6 when they led their squad to 12 straight points, and didn’t look back.

The St. Mary’s junior team will play in the AAA CWOSSA championship tournament on February 21st, while St. David’s will play for the AA CWOSSA Championship, and Woodland advances to the A Championship in Walkerton.

In January the midget girls volleyball championship was decided in a nine team draw where Monsignor Doyle won in two straight sets over Woodland in a best of three final.