By Larry Moko
Under the circumstances, Bishop Tonnos Titans coach Alvisia Maga was satisfied with her team's performance Thursday.
Playing for the first time after a lengthy exam-break layoff, Tonnos defeated the visiting St. John Henry Newman Cardinals, 2-0 (25-17, 25-22).
That result improved BT's senior girls' high school volleyball record in the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic league standings to 11-0.
Thus far, the Titans haven't even lost a set this season.
"I thought the match was fine for all intents and purposes," Maga said. "The kids haven't played for two weeks (16 days) so really our goal was to kind of grind it out.
"We knew it might be a little ugly volleyball. And it was."
First-place Tonnos has three games remaining in the regular schedule before quarter-final playoffs begin Feb. 10.
Newman coach Cayley Shaw agreed that the prolonged stretch of inactivity affected team chemistry.
"Coming off almost three weeks off for exams it's hard for some of the girls to get back into it," she said.
Second-place Newman sports a 9-3 record in the eight-team standings.
"When we're playing at our best, defence is our strength," Shaw added. "Our back row doesn't let anything hit the ground.
"We got some great touches on some big swings today."
While Newman dropped both of its matches against Tonnos this season, Shaw said she has seen improvement and resiliency as a result.
"We're hoping in the next couple of weeks that we can build up our chemistry and see them (Titans) again in the playoffs. You only have to beat a team once."
The Titans, however, present a major challenge to any opponent. Tonnos has captured three consecutive Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic league championships. In addition, under Maga, the Titans have won OFSAA gold and silver medals since the COVID-19 shutdown.
Veteran captains Alyssa Cerovac and Estelle Buist continue to be key to the Ancaster squad's success.
"We've seen our Grade 10 setter Breya Peters really step up," the Tonnos coach said. "She's really distributing the offence well."
Maga said liberos Lana (Chiu) and Mara Craciun have also impressed.
"So we have good strength there in our Grade 11 core for both passing and defence. We're really happy with that."
Overall, the Titans feature 10 returnees along with three Grader 9ers -- Nikki Cerovac, Lilly MacIntosh and Edith Meknontchou.
Said Maga: "It's probably a nice story for Nikki and Alyssa playing together as sisters. It's also nice for Estelle and Linaea (Maga) to play together as cousins."
The junior half of the doubleheader saw Newman retain sole possession of first place with a 2-0 victory (25-21, 25-21) over second-place Tonnos.
Both the junior and senior championship games are scheduled for Feb. 19.
Photos by R.F. (Bob) Butrym, RFB Sport Photography
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