We will bring everyone up to speed on the volleyball season this week. Both senior Royals teams have had excellent seasons. The Royals had a full squad come out this season; Grade 12 - Jesse Blais, Caleb Greening, Marc LaClare, Denzil McCaffrey, Damon Schaefer. Grade 11 - Jared Blaquiere, Reed Delainey, Tristan Derenoski, Thomas Seipp, Jordan Sittler, Austin White. Grade 10 - Dallon Becotte, Jesse Cadrain, Anthony Cole and Wyatt Malenfant.
Two teams hit the courts this season and they split the league and tournament play between them. These tournaments included Maidstone, Medstead, Leoville, St. Walburg, and Glaslyn. The boys gained experience throughout the season that they carried into conference playdowns at Debden. First place at conference took them to regionals at Goodsoil. After a hard battle, they brought home third, which advanced them to provincial 2A at Arcola/ Carlyle.
The Royals brought home a provincial silver medal the weekend of Nov. 22. They opened with a tough loss to Paradise Hill and then defeated Langham and Kahkewistahaw. They then beat Central Butte in the final game of the round robin. The boys then defeated Montmartre in the quarter final, which brought them up against Central Butte once again. After a win in the semi-final, they faced off against Paradise Hill. After two tight sets, Paradise Hill was the victors with the Royals bringing home the silver.
The Lady Royals have also had a striking season. They entered tournaments in Wilkie, Loon Lake, Macklin, Hafford and their home tournament. They wanted to continue to build on the successes from last year. The Grade 11 and 12 girls led the way. Due to their hard work, they won gold at their home tournament and Hafford's and a second place finish at Loon Lake. These accomplishments brought into sight conference and regional play.
At Leoville they earned conference gold. This advanced them to regionals at Big Island Lake Reserve. The Lady Royals continued to prove that they were a force to be reckoned with and once again brought home the gold. They were seeded 5th at the provincial 2A playoffs in Wakaw.
This found some excited and nervous girls, as this is the furthest these young ladies have been in their volleyball career. They also knew that they had the ability to go far. The Friday of the tournament found them undefeated. The next day found the nerves starting to rear their ugly heads and they lost their first match of the weekend. This brought them up against Maymont in the quarter final which knocked them out of the tournament. This brought them a fifth place finish in the province
The school Christmas concert will take place the evening of Dec. 19, at 7:30 p.m. Be sure to come out and enjoy the entertainment that the students and their teachers have prepared. See you there.
