BRANTFORD— The Brantford Collegiate Institute Mustangs senior volleyball team couldn’t have hoped for a better start.
After making it to the Brant County finals last year, this Mustangs team who have such talents as Grade 11 returning player Tenisha Hill along with Grade 11 rookie Nikina Bear-Lowen, have recently sprinted out to a perfect 3-0 league record.
Displaying their talent on Thursday, December 5th. at home, Branford Collegiate Institute or B.C.I. for short, got some clutch serves from Bear-Lowen and Hill as they won the first game 25-20 against the North Park Trojans, before dropping the second by a 25-21 score. Finding their groove, the Mustangs responded by taking the next two games by 25-19 and 25-14 decisions.
B.C.I. Mustangs Nikina Bear-Lowen and Tenisha Hill are all smiles after their team defeated North Park and improved to 3-0 on the season.
“It’s a higher level of competition,” Bear-Lowen said about making the move from junior to senior high school volleyball. I just started playing, (when young) and I really grew to love it.”
Regarding her strengths on the court Bear-Lowen was quick to respond, “Serving, blocking and communicating.”
Bear-Lowen made her mark early in the first game, when she served for four straight points which gave the Sr. Mustangs an early 7-3 lead. “She’s doing really well,” Hill said about her teammate. “I see her slowly improving and she’s really been gelling.”
North Park came back to tie things up at 10-10 but couldn’t maintain the momentum as B.CI. took seven of the next nine points for a 17-12 lead, which also included some clutch serves from Hill. North Park would get on another run as they tied things up at 19-19 but once again the Mustangs answered right back as they finished strong in getting that Game 1 win.
“I like the intensity,” Hill said about playing volleyball. “I like making good plays with my teammates. It’s all about having fun.”
After dropping that second game, the Mustangs meant business in the third as they got the first two points before sprinting out to a commanding 15-6 lead. North Park came back to within four at 16-12 before B.CI.’s offence came alive in earning seven of the next 10 points on their way to successfully taking two of the first three games.
Continuing to roll the Mustangs won some entertaining long rallies as they were in control with a 13-4 Game 4 lead and never looked back in making a statement and remaining undefeated in regular season play.
“We’re executing and really coming together as a team,” Hill said. “It’s a lot of fun to play and we’re (team) like family.”
