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SportsOakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2010 37 The St. Matthew Wildcats werent interested in being runners-up again. Halton Catholic District School Board elementary girls volleyball finalists a year ago, the Wildcats took it one step further this season, winning the regional championship last week with a 25-21, 25-23 victory over Burlingtons St. Patrick. St. Matthew showed it wasnt going to be denied, ral- lying from six-point deficits in both sets. Coach Nicole Biturajac said her squad, which featured four returning starters from 2009, was motivated by its three-set loss to Holy Rosary in last years final. They definitely had the passion. They were fired up all the time, Biturajac said of returnees Sarah Williams, Emma Lorincz, Jade Thompson and Pierina Timoteo. Grade 7 students Emma Guerin and Juhl Henriksen rounded out the Wildcats starting six, helping St. Matthew finish the season with an undefeated record. The Wildcats also won the Oakville championship this year, defeating Mother Teresa in straight sets in the final. Biturajac, who was assisted by Karen Moskal, said volleyball is a focal point at St. Matthew. Despite having less than 400 students in the school, more than 35 play- ers tried out for this years team. Were a small school, so any achievement like this is absolutely remarkable, Biturajac added. Other members of the Wildcats are Kristen ONeill, Vanessa Corbett, Marta Tkachuk, Rima McCullough, Daniella Paniccia and Emily Schnarr. Jon Kuiperij St. Matthew girls finish volleyball season undefeated By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR A few months ago, St. Marguerite dYouville boys volley- ball coach Mark Gowan surveyed the talent available to him and thought about making this season a rebuilding year. Hes now glad he didnt. The Panthers overcame an overall team lack of volleyball expe- rience to win the Halton Catholic District School Board elementary championship last week with a straight sets victory over archrival St. Vincent. I (underestimated) them all year, Gowan said. At the begin- ning of the year, if you asked me which sport our school would go further in, I would have said basket- ball. My first thoughts were to rebuild and go with Grade 6s and 7s. St. Marguerite had no shortage of athletes. Its just that hardly any of them played volleyball. We had only three kids back St. Marguerite boys excel quickly in new sport WINNING WILDCATS: The St. Matthew Wildcats won the Halton Catholic District School Board elementary girls volleyball champi- onship last week. See Panthers page 39 PANTHERS PROWL: The St. Marguerite dYouville Panthers were this years Halton Catholic District School Board elementary boys volleyball champions.