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It was cold as could be outside, but as usual, warm like a furnace inside during the 2011 YESSA boys/girls volleyball tournament held last Tuesday and Wednesday.

The MC Knoll boys's team headed by Sean Coomber and Michelle Pfeifer outlasted St. Michael's in the Diggers Division (Boys 'A').

The MC Knoll Triple Threat girls team won the Spikers Division (Girls 'B') and the Yorkdale Central Public School girls' team, headed by Shaune Beatty went full swing into the finals following a quarter-final which he said had everyone on the edge of their seats.

They won the girls 'A' division over MC Knoll.

Mark Schendel, president of the YESSA group which puts on the whole show termed it as a "recipe for fun".

Approximately 300 athletes took part in this," he said following the MC Knoll winners in their home gym Wednesday night.

"There's numerous coachesjust add water," he joked, referring to his previous statement of recipe for fun.

The city-wide boys and girls volleyball tournament included the Christ the Teacher Catholic School Division and the Good Spirit School Division.

"Saltcoats came too," he added.

"The highlight for me is allowing these athletes to showcase their talents."

Most matches were decided in two sets, but there were some that required a third set. The MC Knoll Triple Threat girls required extra time to beat the MC Knoll Smashers and the Yorkdale girls team needed an extra set to beat out St. Alphonsus in the quarter finals on the girls 'A' side.

"I am never disappointed by the quality of volleyball in this tournament," notes Schendel.

Shaune Beatty, coach of the Yorkdale girls team noted that the power of players' serving was pretty good too.

"We have some great coaches here," attests Schendel, who thanks everyone involved in putting together a day-and-a-half of volleyball action.

Games were held in four different locations. The MC Knoll and St. Michael's gymnasiums were jam-packed for the second year in a row. Columbia School and Yorkdale Central School also got in on the fun.

SUPPORT

"The support from the community," Schendel responds when asked about the success of the games.

Most teams played five or six other teams and the Gloria Hayden Centre hosted games too, he said.

"We had great crowds on hand. (We thank) the coaches for the countless hours they put in."

Schendel added that most of the teams that played put in practice time both before and after school and the tournament was the "biggest ever for numbers for participants".

MC Knoll had three girls teams play and one boys team. St. Michael's had two of each participate.

Then Schendel got philosophical again:

"Speaking on behalf of the GSSD, one of our ultimate goals is to showcase the talents of the amazing young people in our buildings and this tournament accomplished that goal."