How often can a coach or team say they had a perfect season?
If you said never you would be wrong because this year the Neerlandia Public Christian School Grade 7 and 8 boys triple ball Eagles team went undefeated this season cumulating in winning the Pembina Hills Public Schools divisional championships Nov. 1 in Westlock.
“I have never seen anything like it in my five years coaching. They didn’t even lose one set all season long,” said coach Aaron Lee. “It is just something that just doesn’t happen.
The Eagles season included two tournaments, not including the regional championships and 14 exhibition games.
Going into the season Lee and junior high volleyball boys coach Howard Gelderman knew both of their teams had some very talented athletes on them and would be contenders but he didn’t foresee going undefeated.
“Usually there is going to be a tournament, a day, a game or a set where they are not at their best, get behind and get rattled. But that never happened. They are a very resilient and focused group of boys.”
And those characteristics put the team in good stead at the divisional championships.
The Eagles opened the nine-team tournament against the host team RF Staples in two sets.
“It was a fairly close game both sets we won by a margin of three to five points, but as you can expect, being the first game in the morning [8:30 a.m.] they were a little tired and groggy, but they pulled it together and played very well,” Lee said.
After having a few hours off the next team Neerlandia faced was one of the two Barrhead Composite High School (BCHS) teams, which they dispatched, in fairly easy fashion.
However, their next game against Eleanor Hall School from Clyde, a team they never played before, proved to be more challenging.
“They had some really strong players, but once again they rallied hard and were able to come up with the victory,” he said.
For the final game of the round robin, the Eagles found themselves playing St. Mary School from Westlock defeating them handily 25-14 and 25-6.
The win put them on top of their pool and as a result, they received an automatic birth into the semi-finals where they defeated the second BCHS team.
However, their next game against Eleanor Hall School from Clyde, a team they never played before, proved to be more challenging.
“They had some really strong players, but once again they rallied hard and were able to come up with the victory,” he said.
For the final game of the round robin, the Eagles found themselves playing St. Mary School from Westlock defeating them handily 25-14 and 25-6.
The win put them on top of their pool and as a result, they received an automatic birth into the semi-finals where they defeated the second BCHS team.
In the final Neerlandia once again faced St. Mary.
Lee cautioned the team not to take them to lightly and not to let their ‘foot off the gas, — advice they seemed to take to heart as they defeated St. Mary 25-14 and 25-12.
“They are a great group of boys and it was a pleasure coaching them. Going undefeated is something that doesn’t happen very often. It was a very special season and I am sure it is one they will remember for a long time.”
