There’s a lot to be said about hard work and determination and the Eagles girls’ senior volleyball team proved that at OFSAA.
The girls walked away with their first ever silver medal after losing to defending champions, General Amherst, in a thrilling three-set game.
Coach Todd Desautels says the girls are very proud of their accomplishment and has improved greatly over the course of the season.
“This is the most improved team I have ever coached. This team far exceeded any coaching goals that we had at the start of the season. This team worked extremely hard all season.”
The team finished second in the round robin after earning three straight wins against Don Bosco High School, host team Perth and Es De La Salle.
They earned one loss to ninth ranked Beamsville before securing a spot in the quarter finals.
A repeat game of last season, the Eagles took on first ranked West Elgin Secondary School and came back from a first set loss to take the opposition in three sets, 19-25, 25-23, 15-12.
The team met up with fourth ranked Gisele Lalonde for the semifinal match up, which also went to three sets.
The Eagles lost the first set 22-25 but fought back to take the next two 25-23, 15-11.
Already guaranteed a medal, the girls found themselves in the gold medal match, an achievement they had yet to accomplish.
Desautels says the girls’ experience took over and they were nothing but focused going into the final game against defending champs General Amherst.
“We know that team, we’ve faced them before. They were very focused. Just with their experience [...] they know what is needed to keep on playing.”
The team fell to the reigning champions in three straight sets, 19-25, 19-25, 15-25.
Desautels adds that the hometown support received during the tournament was phenomenal and helped the girls stay on track.
“I think that’s why we do well too, it’s because of who these girls are and where they come from. What they did exemplifies who we are, from the small town of Dryden with that sense of community, that sense of caring.”
He adds that lots of family, alumni and past Dryden residents turned out in their Eaglewear to cheer on the girls in their best medal achievement to date at the OFSAA level.

The Eagles just couldn’t hold on to their four point lead as General Amherst pushed past to take the gold medal at the OFSAA championships in Perth.

The Eagles earned a silver medal, their highest achievement yet in a three set game, losing 19-25, 19-25, 10-15.

Check out the Dryden Observer next week for full details.

The Eagles are headed into the OFSAA final after beating out Gisele Lalonde in three sets in the OFSAA semifinals, 22-25, 25-23, 15-11.

The girls are going for gold at 6 p.m. against second ranked General Amherst.
Check back for updates.

The Eagles are off to the semifinals after beating out first ranked team West Elgin in the quarter finals, 19-25, 25-23, 15-12.
The girls will face off against Gisele Lalonde in the semifinals at 2:30 p.m.
Check back for updates.

The Eagles girls will take on the No. 1 ranked West Elgin in the first round of playoffs at 11:30 a.m.
Check back for updates.

The Eagles finished their round robin in second place yesterday.
The girls beat out ES De La Salle in two straight sets, 25-19, 25-18. They went on to play Beamsville for their last round robin play and took it to three sets.
They lost the first set 20-25 but came back to win the second 25-22. Beamsville took the third set 15-10.
The girls plat at 11:30 a.m. this morning (Wednesday).
Check back for updates.