Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2006 29 Volleyball Devils bound for OFSAA By Herb Garbutt Cheung expects a much better seeding this time around, probably in the top four, given last year's results. When the Oakville Trafalgar Red Devils won "We'll show the other teams what we have and the Halton senior boys' volleyball championship I think we'll surprise a couple of teams," he said. last year, the players leapt in the air, arms raised Now that the Devils have secured their place in celebration of the victory. at OFSAA, the key will be overcoming some of There were no such celebrations this year -- the letdowns that have made matches tougher players simply exchanged a few high fives as they than they needed to be. OT was rarely challenged calmly walked off the court after winin Halton league play and didn't drop ning Monday's Halton final. The scene "We'll show the a game all season until the Halton was the same Wednesday as the Devils other teams final. Despite not playing to their secured their place in the Ontario what we have potential, the Red Devils still manFederation of School Athletic and I think we'll aged to beat Georgetown in three Associations (OFSAA) tournament for games in the championship. the second year in a row with a 25-14, surprise a couple "That game, we weren't really con25-23, 25-16 victory over Hamilton's of teams." centrating," Cirovic said. "It shouldn't St. Jean de Brebeuf. have been as tight as it was. We've Perhaps the lack of an outpouring OT's Chris Cheung been concentrating on OFSAA all of emotion is because the Devils know year." the hard part is still to come. OT won a bronze Wednesday, the Devils cruised to a 25-14 vicmedal at the OFSAA championship and the sense tory in the opener against Brebeuf but had to is coming away without some hardware would be battle for a 25-23 victory in the second game. a disappointment. They came back strong to close out the best-of"We had a (much) younger team last year," five match with a 25-16 win. said Grade 11 power Dejan Cirovic. "We're pre"Sometimes we start to not pay attention," pared a lot better." Cheung said. "We have to keep mentally focused "We know how we play and we're used to the and keep our minds on the goal." pressure (of playing at OFSAA)," added OT's The OFSAA tournament begins Nov. 24 at Chris Cheung. Innisdale Secondary in Barrie. Georgetown, which OT beat in the Halton Ridge sought AAA berth final, scored a four-game victory over St. Thomas More in the other Golden Horseshoe Athletic Iroquois Ridge, meanwhile, played Hamilton's Conference (GHAC) semifinal, ensuring OT Bishop Ryan yesterday in a Golden Horseshoe would not have to play again before the provin- Athletic Conference AAA qualifying game (results cial championship. That also means OT will go in were not available at press time). as the top-seeded GHAC team. The winner of that match, contested at That wasn't the case last year when OT was Iroquois Ridge, will compete in the provincial seeded 12th but proved itself by going undefeat- AAA championships Nov. 24-25 in Kingston. ed in pool play and then losing only one playoff match, a semifinal against the eventual champi-- Herb Garbutt can be reached at ons Saunders Secondary from London. sports@oakvillebeaver.com. OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF KAREN NEWMAN / OAKVILLE BEAVER NEW LOOK: Angelica Uremovich (left) and William Hyde show off the Oakville Soccer Club's new rep uniforms for next season at the club's Volunteer Appreciation Night last week at Oakville Town Hall. Uremovich and Hyde were named the club's female and male youth player-of-the-year award winners. Oakville Soccer Club recognizes volunteers The Oakville Soccer Club recognized its large group of volunteers last week with its annual Volunteer Appreciation Night at Oakville Town Hall. Ian Smith received the Joe Hinnen Award as the club's volunteer of the year, while John Freihaut was presented with the Jim Tonkin Sportsperson of the Year award. Danielle Ganassini and Laura Penalosa were co-recipients of the Young Volunteer Award. Angelica Uremovich received the Outstanding Female Youth Player Award, with William Hyde earning male honours. For a list of house league coaches of the year, awards that were presented in 2006 for the first time, see page 30. Ian Smith Novice A Rangers unbeaten in 13 games Stellar defensive play has helped the Oakville novice A Rangers go unbeaten in its first 13 games of the Tri-County Smith A Minor Hockey League season. The Rangers, 11-0-2 thus far, yielded only 20 goals in those 13 games -- the lowest total in their division. "Superb goaltending by both Kyle Bernat-Riddle and Braden Leedham have been a huge reason for this team's success. Kyle and Braden have shared the goaltending duties and have played excellent for us thus far," said Oakville general manager Renee Serrao. Oakville's latest win came against the Woolwich Wildcats, as the Rangers claimed a 6-3 victory this past week. Ben Prentice scored twice to lead Oakville, with Kyle Harvey, Christopher Howarth, Joseph Serrao and Luke Vasilaros-Wilson netting singles. Alex Montague, Howarth and Vasilaros-Wilson contributed assists for the Rangers, who were playing without injured forward Bryant McKeon. Oakville hopes to have McKeon back in the lineup this weekend when it meets Woolwich once again. The Rangers will play the third-place Hespeler Shamrocks next week, then compete in a three-day weekend tournament in Guelph. John Freihaut