By Larry Moko
A first-set loss on home court wasn't enough to derail the Bishop Tonnos Titans on their quest for a 2025 city high school volleyball title.
Tonnos made it three straight Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic girls' championships in the sport with a 3-1 victory over the visiting St. Thomas More Knights on Wednesday.
More and Tonnos have faced each other in the final four years in a row.
"We persevered after that first-set loss," leading point-getter Estelle Buist of the Titans said. "We showed what we're really made of."
Tonnos dropped the opening game 25-15 before roaring back for convincing 25-18, 25-8 and 25-13 victories.
"The first set went really well for us," More coach Jacob Stampone said. "Our passing was phenomenal."
Then, according to Stampone, either the crowd environment rattled the Knights or BT picked up its game.
Second-place More (12-2) handed first-place Tonnos (13-1) its only loss of the regular schedule on February 4 (2-0) at More.
"They seemed a little stronger today than when we played them in our gym," the Knights coach said. "We also didn't execute our game plan that well. We were trying to get our left sides the ball and we couldn't do it without a good pass. We were out of system a lot. It was tough."
With Grade 11 co-captains Buist and fellow left-side hitter Alyssa Cerovac pacing the attack, Tonnos started to roll. Both players were effective in all facets of the game.
"We rely on them to do the bulk of our work," Titans coach Alvisia Maga said. "When they play great our team is great. I thought they were exceptional today. They served intensely, blocked and defended well. They put a ton of balls away like we need them to."
Maga said the Titans cleaned up the mistakes made from the opening set and began to display "BT volleyball."
"We performed exactly how I hoped we would," she said.
Buist, Cerovac and middle Eva Aleksa are the only players who have been part of all three Tonnos championship runs.
"I'm proud of our team," Buist said. "We were really determined all season, losing one game to a team we ended up playing in the finals.
"We have less seniors on the team this year but that doesn't change anything. We still have the same energy and the same kind of teamness we've always had."
It's been a personal adjustment for Buist, however.
"Going from lib last year to left side this year was definitely a change," Buist said. Coach C (Denis Cerovac) is amazing. He's helped me learn to hit a few shots. I've improved in the hitting aspect."
And even without the services of setter Avaya Maga who left the team at mid-season to begin a volleyball scholarship at University of Oklahoma, the Titans remain a powerhouse.
"Estelle and Alyssa have a bond and a great connection," coach Maga said. "They're close friends who have been playing together at club and high school since they were 10. They're sharing the captaincy and leadership role."
Aleksa, too, brings a veteran presence. "Eva has a good attitude and mindset," Maga said. "She's going to play in New Brunswick next year at St. Thomas University."
Other members of the Titans are Linaea Maga, Lana Chiu, Olivia Germanna, Reese FitzGibbon, Rachel Campbell, Breya Peters, Julia Germanna, Katelyn Masters, Ella Finnocchio, Veronica Navarette and Mara Craciun.
With the win, the Titans are scheduled to play Oakville's Iroquois Ridge on Feb. 20 in a Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference AAA semifinal. The winner automatically advances to the OFSAA tournament March 3-5 in Burlington.
Photos by Richard Andoga
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