OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, October 8, 2009 · 26 Devils emerge as team to beat OT seeks return to OFSAA boys' volleyball tournament By Herb Garbutt SERVING NOTICE: Oakville Trafalgar's Mike Turnbull goes up to deliver a serve during last week's Halton high school senior boys' volleyball showdown with rival Georgetown. OT defeated the Rebels 25-22, 25-20 to establish itself as the early-season team to beat in Halton. NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Bruno Svajger briefly thought about downplaying his team's victory over the Georgetown Rebels last Thursday and began a `just another win' answer when he stopped himself. "Actually, beating Georgetown is a pretty big thing," he admitted. Oakville Trafalgar's 25-22, 2520 win confirmed the Red Devils' standing as the early favourite to claim the Halton senior boys' volleyball title. But OT knows better than anybody that being the favourite doesn't get your name engraved on a trophy or a trip to the provincial tournament. Last year, the Devils rolled into their seventh Halton final in eight years riding a 13-match winning streak. Everything seemed to be going according to plan as OT won a close first set but the Holy Trinity Titans rallied to win the next two. The Titans' victory ended a Kevin Houston and Mike decade of dominance that saw Turnbull. Grade 11 setter the Devils and Georgetown each Patrick Doyle has stepped in claim five Halton titles in the to not only run the attack, but also to provide a previous 10 years. strong defensive But with Trinity "For all of us... presence. He came getting off to a 0-2 that's the one up with several key start, the power thing we all want blocks in the win has shifted back to is to get back (to over Georgetown. the traditional vol"We're really leyball powers and OFSAA)." starting to click," the Devils' win, for Svajger said. the moment, OT player If the victory makes them the Bruno Svajger over Georgetown top dog. And, after a two-year absence from the didn't solidify OT's standing as Ontario Federation of School the team to beat, its three-set Athletic Associations (OFSAA) win over Assumption Tuesday tournament, Oakville Trafalgar certainly did. The Burlington school is the main contender is motivated to return. "For all of us, especially the to upset the balance of power, guys in Grade 12 like me, much like it did when it upset that's the one thing we all Georgetown in last year's want is to get back there," said quarter-finals. Other than the Devils, now Svajger. "We want to win for 3-0, only two other teams our coach, too." After retiring two years remain unbeaten -- Nelson ago, Maria Seto is again (4-0) and Robert Bateman (3coaching the Devils. She 0). OT faces Bateman Oct. 15 inherits a team that has three and Nelson Nov. 3. Both returning starters -- Svajger, games are in Burlington. Deerfield Golf club STINGING EARLY AND OFTEN: The Oakville midget B Hornets won the Oshawa Girls Fall Classic Tournament last weekend and have been victorious in their first 10 games of the season. THANKSGIVING WEEKEND SPECIAL October 10, 11 & 12 $ 45 Green Fee after 11am Book ON-LINE www.golfdeerfield.com HWY 25 DEERFIELD Midget Hornets moving up after hot start Natalie Mihalek's third-period goal lifted the Oakville midget B Hornets to a 2-1 victory over the Whitby Wolves in the BB championship game of last weekend's Oshawa Girls Fall Classic Tournament. Game MVP Nicole Walker also scored for the Hornets, who have won all 10 of their exhibition and tournament games so far this season. Oakville will move up to the BB Division of the Lower Lakes Female Hockey League for the upcoming season. All of the Hornets games at the Oshawa Girls Hockey Tournament were very close, particularly the semifinal. Oakville edged the Waterloo Ravens in a shootout after playing to a 1-1 tie through regulation and overtime. Danielle Maton had the winning goal in the shootout, while Renate Martone provided the Hornets marker in regulation. Chelsea Erhardt and Chelsea Pronkewich scored in a 2-0 semifinal win over the Scarborough Sharks. In the round-robin, Oakville defeated Waterloo 2-1, Scarborough 4-2 and Aurora Panthers 2-1. Pronkewich scored twice in the win over Waterloo, then added another goal versus Scarborough. Megan Walker (two), Nicole Walker, Rachel Lewczuk and Maton had Oakville's other round-robin goals. Hornets netminders Colleen O'Kelly and Stephanie Pringle were both sharp throughout the weekend. Also contributing to the championship were Leslie Alexander, Jaclyn Beckerton, Shauna Eves, Sasha Guay, Victoria Larkin and Haley Thomson. Steve Chow, Don Martone and Rob Lewczuk coach the team. Janet Guay and Jeanette Pringle are the trainers. 3RD LINE 2363 North Ser vice Road Just East of Bronte Road QEW Oakville 905-847-5555