The Macklin senior girls’ volleyball team played host to Turtleford, Paradise Hill, Pierceland, Makwa and Langham in a six-team 2A regional championship tournament, Nov. 10 and 11. They emerged as regional champions after a tough three-set semifinal against Makwa and winning the final against Langham in two sets. The Sabres also won round robin games against Paradise Hill and Pierceland.
The girls were then off to St. Walburg and Turtleford Nov. 17 and 18 for provincials. In round robin action, they won one game and lost two, putting them into a quarter-final matchup against Rocanville.
The girls were unable to pull off a win against Rocanville, the eventual provincial silver medallists, but can be proud of winning their round robin game against the Davidson Raiders who ultimately were crowned the 2A Saskatchewan girls’ volleyball champions.
That circumstance of beating the gold medallists and losing to the silver medallists, along with many close scores between the 10 teams competing at provincials, only goes to show the high calibre of play and competition at the tournament.
The Kerrobert Rebels were in Maymont for 1A regionals Nov. 10 and 11, where they came out of their pool with a 1-1 record. They lost to Maymont in the semifinal, thus ending their season short of provincial qualification.
The Unity Warriors, playing in the 3A category, were in Lanigan for their regional tournament. Great effort – starting with winning both round robin games and then vanquishing Maidstone in the semifinal – led them to the regional gold medal game.
In that regional final, they were up against host Lanigan and unable to overcome a powerful hitting team, but still qualified for provincials as regional silver medallists.
For provincials, the Warriors, coached by Vicki Orobko, were back in Lanigan, Nov. 17 and 18, where they beat Shellbrook but lost to Oxbow and Carnduff for a 1-2 round robin record.
The provincial quarter-final was a replay of the regional final with Unity and Lanigan battling it out. Once again Lanigan prevailed and Unity’s quest was over. Lanigan went on to become provincial champion.
