PCI South-East girls volleyball champs

 Stampeders defeat WCI in senior final capping undefeated league run

  February 20, 2026

By Rob J. Ross

ST. THOMAS - The Parkside Stampeders are heading to WOSSAA AA girls volleyball with unfinished business.

After capturing the Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA) South-East senior girls title February 18, the Stampeders are hosting the regional tournament February 25, with an eye on advancing to OFSAA, the high school provincial championship.

Parkside defeated Woodstock CI Red Devils (WCI) three games to one, 25-17, 20-25, 25-22, 25-22, in the South-East final, completing an undefeated 11-0 run through their TVRA match schedule this season.

"I feel our energy was there and we were really positive and we fought for every ball," Stampeders captain Blaire Dawdy said. "Our defence was definitely big. Our goal was to never let a ball drop."

Parkside dusted Ingersoll in three games, 25-20, 25-19, 25-15, in the semifinals, defeating the team that upset the Stampeders in the South-East final a year ago.

"We came in with a positive attitude and our fan base was great tonight. Everyone worked together," said Stampeders Kali Baker.

Parkside coach Chris Palmer liked what he saw on the court, but there are a few areas the team needs to strengthen to attain their season's goal.

"Our first game (versus Ingersoll) was excellent. We executed the game plan, with minimal unforced errors," Palmer said. "Our biggest problem for ourselves is unforced errors, whether it's serving or not executing when we get free balls. We seem to have lapses of execution where we just don't out the ball away when we should."

That surfaced in the second set against WCI and led to Parkside's lone loss on the day.

"That second game we let them (WCI) hang around. We had a lead and gave it away. It was never really put all together in that second set. Third set, we came back and put it all together"

At WOSSAA, Parkside faces London Central Golden Ghost (11-0) in the semifinals.

"We're an unknown commodity to them and they're unknown to us, so the best team wins," Palmer said. "We can hang with anybody. We're not going to get blown out. We've got a talented set of girls. if we can limit the number of unforced errors and do what we do well, we can hang with anybody."

Central placed first in the Central Division tier two. The West Elgin Wildcats (1-A) were second and the only team to take a game from the Golden Ghosts in league action.

The other WOSSAA AA semifinal has WCI taking on Stratford St. Mike's (9-1, with Huron-Perth final set for Feb 24 vs Stratford District, a 3-A school).

The WOSSAA winner earns a spot at OFSAA, March 9-11 in Cambridge.

"It's nice to roll in with a little bit of momentum (to WOSSAA). We are really hoping to finish," said Palmer. "That's the goal. OFSAA has been on everyone's mind since the beginning of the season."

Last year in the WOSSAA gold medal match, Parkside fell to London Oakridge, the eventual 2025 OFSAA champions.

At the junior level in the South-East final, Ingersoll defeated Parkside, three games to one (15-25,25-20,25-11,25-15).

Both teams move on to WOSSAA at London South Feb 25, joining the host school and Stratford St. Mike's.

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