Hard-striking Lam not enough

[attach]2979[/attach]It was a tale of two strikers Nov. 15 as Runnymede Ravens volleyed back-and-forth with Bloor Bears on neutral turf for the A Region City senior boys Championship.

The standouts: Raven Kevin Lam and Bear Patrick Persaud.

On the line was a berth in the OFSAA volleyball tournament in Mississauga Nov. 25-27.

In the end, Runnymede failed to take flight, losing 3-0 (25-21, 26-24, 25-19).

Finishing up his fifth season, Lam was disappointed the red-and-black couldn’t advance.

“We played Bloor last year as well for OFSAA, we came on top but this year we didn’t,” he said. “We should have pushed a little further, I know.

“We could have won because the games were real close.”

Head coach John Kalantzakos told his charges if they wanted to take the trip to Peel Region for provincials, they had to work together for it.

“I told them, ‘You’ve got to put your game together’,” he said. “If we put our game together, we would’ve been at our best. Today, Bloor was the better team.”

Bloor was ecstatic with their vindicating win after last year’s loss to Runnymede, said coach George Theofilaktidis.

“OFSAA is a great opportunity for any high school student,” he said. “You have to take advantage. Win or lose, you’re going to get an experience that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

“Both teams showed that they wanted to play really hard, there was a lot on the line.”

As for the reason for the Bears success, Theofilaktidis highlighted his troupe’s experience.

“There’s a lot of leadership on our team, which made the difference I think,” he said, adding Persaud was the linchpin keeping Bloor’s wheels on their axle.

Still, he found Runnymede’s Lam a tough opponent.

“Both power players were hitting hard and it was whether or not you could pick up the ball and keep the rally going,” Theofilaktidis said. “The team that made the least mistakes won.”

For Runnymede, it was the last chance for many of its veterans. Along with Lam, a majority of the roster will be graduating.

“This is it for this season,” Kalantzakos said. “We lose a bunch of the guys. This was their last chance at OFSAA.”