The Vanier Crusaders girls were not about to give up after a flat-footed first set.

The group rallied after dropping the opening set 25-12 to the Porter Creek Rams in the Grade 11/12 girls' finals of the Yukon Championships at the Canada Games Centre on Saturday.

Second set: 25-22 Crusaders. Third set: 15-13 Crusaders.

Crusader Kelsey Smeeton managed the winning point when she bumped the ball awkwardly into the tape, watching it drop into the gap the Rams left while waiting for a free ball.

"I'm pretty sure that was the most exciting part of this volleyball season by far,” Vanier power hitter Keeley Boyko said.

"We were so excited to get that win; we worked so hard up to that point and we just believed in ourselves and played our best and it turned into a win.”

Vanier and Porter Creek are familiar to each other: the Crusaders edged out the Rams for the Super Volley title last week; the tables were turned at the Dawson Invitational, which went to the Rams in the finals over the Crusaders.

Vanier even lost their two round robin games to Porter Creek before reaching the finals.

"We've been back and forth with them,” Crusaders coach Natasha Bilodeau said.

"All my girls play with a lot of heart, and I feel like we always had a team that backs each other up, so no matter who's on the floor, everyone does the job they need to do. I think that's really what wins us volleyball games.”

Bilodeau attributed her side's shaky start to jitters.

Vanier's Erica New, who won tournament MVP, agreed.

"I'm so proud of our team,” said New, who returned to the sport for the Super Volley after breaking her knee two years ago.

"I think everybody on the team played really well and did their part.”

Bilodeau said New, who plays both power and libero, adds another dimension to her side.

"She's a really consistent player, and because she's so consistent, it really brings the whole team together and keeps our energy up,” Bilodeau said.

Rams head coach Jordan Borgford said nerves got the better of his side, particularly in the second set, which he called the "defining moment.”

"We had a couple of those sets with Vanier throughout the season: we come back out in the next set and we're a little bit flat and it carries through and they just tighten up with the nerves,” Borgford said.

"In the second set, there were a couple key mistakes. I think really we should have been able to close it out in the second. Nerves kind of got the best of them, and we just made a few more mistakes than Vanier did.”

The tournament all-star team is as follows:

Fiona Azizaj and Emily McDougall, both of Porter Creek, Kesley Smeeton, Robyin Fortune and Terry Publicover, each of Vanier, and Dahria Beatty of F.H. Collins.