2008 Detroit JCC Maccabi Games/Volleyball final

The Vancouver volleyball team celebrates their 2008 JCC Maccabi Games championship.

By Ashley Naftaly

JCC Maccabi Star Reporter

West Bloomfield -- It all came down to one match for the volleyball gold medal as top-seeded Vancouver and second-seeded San Francisco battled at the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit in the final event of the 2008 Detroit JCC Maccabi Games on Aug. 21.

Both powerful teams knew only one could win … only one would be the champion. The excitement was thick as the stands were packed before the match even started.

Fans on both sides cheered their teams on. Chants of "USA, USA, USA," and "Canada, Canada, Canada" were heard during the entire match.

The game started with a powerful serve from San Francisco. Then an unbelievable volley between the two teams as San Francisco earned the first point. Vancouver came right back to earn the next point on a powerful spike. The Canadians were able to outlast the Americans to earn the first game, 25-19.

In the second game, Spikes pounded the floor everywhere as the two teams battled in a very close game. Late in the game, it looked like Vancouver would come out on top, but San Francisco rallied to win the game 25-22. The crowd spirit was phenomenal as a third game was needed to decide the match.

To that point, Vancouver had not lost a single game during the entire tournament.

In the third game, Vancouver took charge as the stands shook and the room echoed with the roar of the crowd. The Canadian team won the title 25-20.

The Vancouver players jumped for joy after the victory and their smiles and tears showed their joy at winning the gold medal.

Bronze medal game

Third-seeded Detroit Blue and fifth-seeded Orange County battled earlier in the day for the bronze medal.

The crowd was standing and yelling in excitement during the match. The host team took both games 25-16, 25-16 to earn the bronze. The players jumped up and down, high-fiving each other, and giving hugs. The Detroit players were ecstatic with their victory.

Above: Scenes from the JCC Maccabi Games volleyball final. Bottom: San Francisco poses with their silver medals and Detroit Blue poses with their bronze medals.