_â€"SportWaterilo Not about to curtsey and sit down after that feat, WCI proceeded to thumb their noses at the teams that expected them to roll over and play dead in the roundâ€"robin quarterâ€" finals. And by finishing second in their pool, Vikes qualified for semiâ€"final action against Elmira, whom they spanked in straight games to reach the league finals a dozen days ago. The fact that their chart was only good enough for fifth place was irrevelant, since by finishing in that spot in the newlyâ€"aligned 14â€"team Waterloo County loop, WCI qualified for the playoffs for the first time in the school‘s history. Even the most optimistic Waterloo fans would have been happy with just a good showing in the finals against league So far they have been successful to the point where they have orchestrated one of the most heartwarming success stories of the high school year â€" and they aren‘t about to end the concerto until they‘ve had their say at the Ontario chamâ€" pionships in North Bay this weekend. Exactly one month ago today, Vikings put.the finishing touches on their finest regular season ever by winning their seventh straight match to give themâ€" an overâ€"all record of nine wins and four losses. Story and Photos by Rick Campbell â€" Chronicle Sports Editor There are lots of adjectives that could be used to describe the Waterioo Viking senior girls volieyball team. ¢ They are essentially a giggly, frolicsome. happyâ€"goâ€"lucky lot, often given to doing "goofy"* things as one of their own anonymously and quite unashamedly pointed out last week. But whatever they are or do, when this collection of young Viking women set out to accomplish something, come hell or high water they are bent on completing it. The triumphant Vikings proudly their CWOSSA trophy after beating Cameron in finais last Thursday in Preston. ng Heights in the Page 16 â€" Waterioo Chronicie, Wednesday, March 5, 1980 WCI VOLLEYBALL WOMEN LOVE LIFE AT THE TOP Vikings also swept Owen Sound Friday in three straight games of a Challenge match between class AA (Waâ€" terloo)and A (Owen Sound) to determine the area represenâ€" tative at the allâ€"Ontario‘s, but for coach Wendy Sheriock, most of this season has just been a dream come true. It‘s really quite amazing that we‘re here,"* said Sherlock Thursday at Preston just prior to her club‘s title match with And whatâ€"better time to hold that distinction than just prior to the Ontario championships? Ask any Viking and they would say just after. At Preston high school last Thursday, they made beâ€" lievers out of everyone by dusting Cameron in straight games not only in morning roundâ€"robin action that included Brantford North Park and Guelph Centennial, but also in the afternoon final to declare the Central Western Ontario champion. * In the end, a nailbiting 17â€"15 second game win, combined with their first game 15â€"12 decision clearly established Waâ€" terloo as the best team around at this time. _ _But even as the sketics‘ line formed on the right, Vikes were proving them wrong as they laid to rest any thoughts of them having just ‘‘lucked out". At that point no doubt the WCI women were being labelled as a flashâ€"inâ€"theâ€"pan unit simply blessed with excellent timâ€" ing. But nay. the Waterloo Express wasn‘t about to stop and after a slight detour to allow Cameron to take the first game in the bestâ€"ofâ€"five final, Vikings came back to take the next three straight in shockingâ€"upset fashion. powerhouse Cameron Heights Gaels, who waltzed through their season undefeated. ; Oops, maybe finishing isn‘t the right word, because no doubt Vikings, despite entéring OFSAA as colossal underâ€" dogs, view their mission as of yet incomplete. _ _ ‘"It was basically a "skills year‘‘, a chance to bring the girls up to par as far as being competitive in the league," said Sherlock of the club that finished sixth in the eightâ€" ‘team Twin City grouping. ‘‘We don‘t have a junior team like other schools do so I â€"have to spend time developing new players at the same time as being competitive with the others. Actually, it‘s a situation I prefer because starting each year I‘ll know exactly what I‘ve got." ‘‘We were really uptight against Cameron in the league finals, there was a lot of people there cheering and our girls weren‘t used to that. We lost the first game 156 and were losing the second 14â€"11 but then came back to win 16â€"14. The pivotal point was that our blocking and hitting really came on. But I‘m just a little tense about having to play Cameron again (CWOSSA final) that‘s three times in less than a week." _ But Vikings eased the tension in the match by jumping into a 14â€"7 lead in game one and then holding on to win 15â€"12. And according to all sources, the second and deciding game showcased some of the best rallies seen this year as first WCI jumped \into a 6â€"0 Jead, then Cameron came back to go ahead 14â€"10, and finally Waterloo stormed back to put on the finishing touches. ‘"‘"‘Our weakest‘area is our serve reception, it‘s cost us many times in the past and it cost us against Brantford (North Park ) today,"" she said. ‘"Our inconsistency has hurt us most, we‘ll play super against a strong team that serves hard, and then against other easier teams, it‘s just not there. It seems every game is a new experience." The neverâ€"sayâ€"die gals could be in over their heads. But as a famous basketball coach once said, "the opera ain‘t over until the fat lady sings‘‘, and to the other OFSAA teams, all 1 can say is beware "the warbling Waterlooites." _ Just as quickly as she chided her club for their inâ€"andâ€"outâ€" ness, Sherlock praised them for the astonishing poise they have shown in many pressureâ€"packed situations. They are heading to North Bay to sing their song, and they will too, every last goofy one of them. Of the 15 girls each team is allowed to carry, the only one Sherlock will lose this year, albeit a valuable member, is Simona Skarecky. Eight members are in grade 12, another three in grade 11 and two just arrived on the scene this year in grade nine. Listing hitting and blocking as team fortes, Sherlock smirked as she admitted her club still gives her fits at times, despite its unprecedented success. And what Sherlock had to begin with this year is a far cry from what she has presently, not in terms of different bodies, but in terms of maturation, increased skills and onâ€" court poise. She played for four years at McMaster University and also at Western the year Mustangs won the Ontario title and came second in the nationals. She also coached a club team in Hamilton before coming to WCI. She viewed her first year of coaching Vikes last season as a year to impart her knowledge to a group of players who excelled in enthusiasm but lacked in talent level. ‘‘But suddenly the team started playing together instead of as individuais, and you have to, volleyball is a team game, not for individuals." _ Sherlock knows of what she speaks, as her credentials more than attest to her ability and knowledge of the sport. Cameron. ‘"Early in the season we lost some games to some not very strong clubs and I was wondering if we‘d ever get it together. *