It was another winning weekend for the Earl Marriott Senior AAAA Mariners girls, who won the annual Peace Arch Classic volleyball tournament – ​​for the second year in a row.

Defending their championship title heading into the competition, the Mariners did not drop a single set, winning their three round-robin sets 2-0 on Friday (Oct. 25).

In the playoffs on Saturday (October 26), Team EMS continued its undefeated play, winning the quarterfinal against Argyle of North Vancouver 25-22, 26-6; win the semifinal against Burnaby Central 25-22, 25-19; and finishing the final for gold against Seaquam of North Delta 25-20 and 25-20 for the tournament title.

“The hours that (Semiahmoo teacher) Gord Houchen puts into organizing this tournament each fall, and the financial sponsorship of the News from the Peace Archis invaluable in providing the support that area high school girls volleyball so richly deserves,” said EMS Senior Girls Head Coach Rob Stevens.

In the bronze medal match, Burnaby Central beat Richmond’s McMath 2-0 (25-20, 25-17), Houchen noted in an email.

In the fifth place match, Walnut Grove of Langley defeated Argyle 2-0.

The co-host Semiahmoo Thunderbirds took seventh place with a 2-0 win over Langley’s Brookswood, while Cloverdale Salish Secondary beat WJ Mouat to finish ninth. White Rock Christian’s AAAA team finished 11th and Grandview Heights finished 13th in the 20-team tournament, Houchen said.

The Earl Marriott Quad-A girls are having a remarkable season as largely the same group of players won the Grade 9 and Junior provincial championships in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

The PAN Classic is the third major tournament won by the EMS Mariners this season, having won the Douglas College tournament in Coquitlam on September 28 and the KSS Best of the West tournament in Kelowna on October 19, defeating provincial rivals team, Okanagan. Mission, in the two finals.

The Mariners earned the top spot in BC School Sports’ weekly ranking of the province’s AAAA volleyball teams following their Sept. 28 victory and have maintained that honor for four straight weeks.

“I am very proud of how this team overcame adversity throughout the season, how our older players established a culture of leadership, and how our younger athletes worked hard to contribute to the success of our team,” Stevens said.

“I think maybe it’s a team of destiny because everyone puts the team before themselves.”

The Mariners will host the 2024 provincial championships at Earl Marriott from November 28-30, as well as at Seaquam Secondary in North Delta.