Delta Pacers came ever-so-close to securing a spot in the main playoff draw at the BC AAA Boys Volleyball Championships at the Langley Events Centre.
The Pacers dropped a five-set heartbreaker to league rival Fraser Heights on Thursday. They will now close out their season in consolation play while Fraser Heights is slated to meet defending provincial champion and top ranked Earl Marriott.
Delta barely advanced to the 20-team tournament — earning one of four wild-card berths after bowing out early in the South Fraser playoffs. It meant being no higher than a 17th seed following round-robin play and having to play an extra playoff game to be part of the main draw.
The Pacers did what they had to do — producing wins on Wednesday against Penticton (2-1), Mount Baker (2-0) and Reynolds (2-0).
That set the stage for the match-up with Fraser Heights which fell to the 16th seed after going 0-3 in its pool group.
The Surrey school jumped out to a 2-0 set lead (25-20, 25-16) before Delta rallied to win the next two by 25-19 and 25-22 scores. Fraser Heights took an early 7-4 lead in the deciding set and went on to win 15-10.
In girls AAAA action, the South Delta Sun Devils were slated to begin their pool play this afternoon with the playoffs starting on Friday.
