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Widdifield sweeps NOSSA volleyball; Eagles win (UPDATED)

The Widdifield Wildcats proved to be unbeatable on Saturday at White Pines as both the senior and junior girls entries from the North Bay school captured the NOSSA AA championship over Sudbury's Lo-Ellen Park.
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The Widdifield Wildcats proved to be unbeatable on Saturday at White Pines as both the senior and junior girls entries from the North Bay school captured the NOSSA AA championship over Sudbury's Lo-Ellen Park.

In senior, Widdifield rallied after dropping the first set to win 19-25, 25-13 and 15-13 over the defending OFSAA champions. Because Lo-Ellen won the provincials last year, both teams will gain an entry in OFSAA, which is being held in Goderich beginning Wednesday.

Widdifield also captured the NOSSA crown last season over Lo-Ellen but Lo-Ellen had the last laugh at OFSAA in Sudbury.

This year, Widdifield will be searching for their sixth OFSAA crown after winning a AAA title in 1976 and four AA titles including back-to-back championships in 1991-92 along with wins in 1996 and 2001.

In the final game, Widdifield broke an 11-11 tie with a three-point run. Following a side out, Widdifield captured the title as the Wildcats' Kelly Ramakko hammered the ball into the open floor.

"They played well against us all day but we made a few adjustments and were able to gain a little momentum at the end which carried us through," said Widdifield head coach John Jeffries, whose team has compiled a 14-0 regular season record and a 45-3 mark overall.

"In the morning we didn't get the match ups we would have liked so we made some adjustments which gave Laura Hudson some room to swing on the ball and our passing was better in the final than it was during the day especially at crucial times.

"We were third last year at OFSAA and we have played some tough matches lately to get us ready. I think our kids are pretty poised right now and I think we have getting better everyday this season so we're ready to go and see what happens."

*** JUNIOR:

In junior, Widdifield needed three sets to defeat Lo-Ellen 30-28, 15-25 and 15-10. The Wildcats rallied after being down 6-1 in the final game.

Bawating finished in third place in the senior division with a win and two losses while the St. Basil Saints also compiled a 1-2 record in the junior division for third position.

"We stared the game slow getting down 6-1 and we were struggling," said Wildcats head coach Danny Gosselin, whose team compiled a 14-0 regular season record.

"We called a time out and said to them that you can't play to lose, you have to play to win. We just had to relax and swing on the ball because we knew we are every bit as good as them if we play our game.

"After that eighth point and we switched sides, we played to win and started to play not to lose and I think that was a bad time for them to go into that shell. They are big and physical and when they swing at us, we struggle with it."

Bawating defeated Jeunesse Nord from Blind River 25-13 and 25-11 while losing to Lo-Ellen 23-25, 24-26 and Widdifield 15-25, 18-25.

St. Basil defeated Manitoulin 25-21, 25-19 while falling to Lo-Ellen 8-25, 18-25 and Widdifield 14-25, 20-25.

*** EAGLES WIN:

The Sir James Dunn Eagles returned home from Sudbury on the weekend as the NOSSA AAA senior girls volleyball champions.

The Eagles defeated North Bay's Chippewa Raiders 28-26, 19-25, 15-13 in the championship game. The Raiders put forth a better effort after the Eagles soundly defeated Chippewa in the semi-finals.

The Eagles now advance to the OFSAA playdowns beginning on Wednesday in Newmarket.

*** NOSSA "A" PLAYDOWNS:

At the NOSSA A championships in Sturgeon Falls on Saturday, the CASS Huskies took second overall in the junior division after falling to Sudbury Marymount in the championship game. The senior Huskies finished out of the championship game in third place.


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