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Jon Kuiperij Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Sports 47 | Thursday, February 12, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" Defending OFSAA champion Eagles following similar path in different way In 2013-14, the players were coming off a season that had been shortened to three games due to labour Beaver Sports Editor unrest in the public school system. They'd gone 3-0 in those three games, many had been part of Abbey Park's Abbey Park Eagles coach Julie Burr understands there junior team that didn't lose a set in 2011-12, and they are similarities between this year's team and the one were eager to prove themselves at the senior level. that won provincial high school AAA gold last spring. This season, the Eagles are not just defending HalShe just prefers not to talk about them. ton champions, they're defending OFSAA champions. "We have tried not to make too many comparisons That brings not only great expectations but also a between the teams," said Burr, whose Eagles com- bull's eye on their backs, something that was apparpleted their second straight ent in a pre-season tournament when undefeated Halton senior girls' Abbey Park lost 2-1 to the St. Thomas volleyball league campaign Aquinas Raiders. Tuesday with a 2-0 victory over "(That showed) that anyone would the Garth Webb Chargers. be so excited to say `Oh, we just beat "It's been important for Abbey Park'," Burr said. myself and (assistant coach) "For us, that was a good reminder Christy Holmes to really unthat we are going to have tough games derstand this season is a differand it's okay to lose (before playoffs). It's ent team, to not reference what about how you respond to that loss and we did last year. From the bework harder and try to improve." ginning of the season, we've foThe Eagles have not lost a game cused on who we are as a group since, running the table in league play this year and what we need to and winning the Frank Hayden tourdo as a group this year." nament last weekend. Monday, they Julie Burr This year's edition of the avenged their pre-season loss to AquiAbbey Park senior girls' volleyball head coach Eagles is 10-0 overall in league nas, overcoming a first-set loss to defeat play, winning 20 of 22 sets. Last the Raiders 19-25, 25-16, 15-10. season, Abbey Park was 13-0 overall and 26-3 in sets. The win over Aquinas illustrated at least one intanThe team is still led by former Ontario beach volleyball gible that this year's Eagles do have in common with champion partners Tori Gorrell and Sarah Williams. last season's squad. But there are some different dynamics as well. Grade "I think one of the great things about this team, both 9 student Samantha Nevado has replaced departed last season and this season, is how well they pull toveteran Sarah Scott at setter. Melissa Langegger has gether when things aren't going well," Burr said. moved from middle to power left hitter, filling the "They just find a way to win." void left from the other graduating starter from last The Halton AA/AAA playoffs begin today (Thursyear, Niki Bozinoski. Kristen Drury is able to play this day) as Corpus Christi visits Assumption and Webb season after missing last year due to an injury suffered hosts Nelson in quarter-final action. Abbey Park will while playing basketball. Brady Martin is filling an play the lowest surviving seed in next Wednesday's important role at libero as a defensive specialist who semifinals, while Aquinas (9-1) will face the other rotates in and out of the lineup. quarter-final winner. The Eagles are also playing with a different mentalThe AAAA and Tier 2 playoffs are not scheduled to ity. begin until next week. by Jon Kuiperij It's been important (for us coaches) to really understand this season is a different team. Abbey Park's Kristen Drury celebrates after the Eagles won a point from the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders during Monday's Halton high school senior girls' volleyball contest. Abbey Park defeated Aquinas 19-25, 25-16, 15-10 in a battle of undefeated teams, then downed Garth Webb Tuesday to finish the regular season with a 10-0 record. | photo by Graham Paine -- Oakville Beaver -- @Halton_Photog Blades winning games but losing time Oakville Blades forward Ryan Garvey scores his team's second goal of the night in a 5-1 win over the Stouffville Spirit Friday at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. | photo by Eric Riehl -- Oakville Beaver -- @Halton_Photog The Oakville Blades won both their games last weekend, but lost time in the race for first place in the Ontario Junior Hockey League's South Division. The division-leading Toronto Patriots won both their contests as well, maintaining their three-point bulge on second-place Oakville while striking another weekend off the regular-season calendar. The Blades (28-18-2-2) and Patriots (3118-0-1) both have four games left to play. Toronto's remaining schedule includes games against the 11-37-0-1 Mississauga Chargers and 19-29-0-1 Hamilton Red Wings, mean- ing the Blades will almost certainly need to win their last four games in order to overtake Toronto for first place. Two of Oakville's last four games are against the Chargers, but the Blades will also face the 26-23-0-2 North York Rangers and visit the 40-7-0-3 Aurora Tigers. Oakville also needs a strong finish to fend off the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, who are one point behind the Blades in the South. The Jr. Canadiens' remaining four opponents (Wellington Dukes, Georgetown Raiders, St. Michael's Buzzers and Pickering Panthers) are a see OHL on p.48