SHELLBROOK-CANWOOD - The SHSAA 3A Provincial Senior Girls’ Volleyball Championships were held in Shellbrook and Canwood on Nov. 19 and 20, with 10 teams participating.
Pool A teams included the Carnduff Education Complex Tigers, along with Briercrest Christian Academy, Lanigan, Unity and Shellbrook. Teams in Pool B included the Kipling School Magyars, as well as Dalmeny, Watrous, Maple Creek and Lashburn. Carnduff and Kipling each went 4-0 to win their respective pools.
The semi-final scores were Carnduff winning over Dalmeny 2-0 (25-18 and 25-20). Kipling faced Watrous and won 2-1 (13-25, 25-20 and 15-12).
The gold medal game was between Carnduff and Kipling, with the Carnduff Tigers winning 2-1 (20-25, 25-16 and 15-11).
Carnduff Tigers coach Ryan Nichols praised his team’s play throughout the year.
“The Carnduff Senior Girls' Volleyball Team competed in seven invitational tournaments throughout the school year. Our team was made up of 10 players - two Grade 12s (Alex Jensen and Jamie Levesque), three Grade 11s (Wynter Cowan, Brooke Gardiner and Caitlin Bolduc), four Grade 10s (Payton Hollinger, Natalie Barber, Tessa Lanski and Presley Barber) and one Grade 9 (Anesa Nichols).
“The team is coached by Ryan Nichols, Michelle Sweeting and Kylie Matiowsky. The team won Langenburg invite, took second place at Conferences and first place at 3A Regionals, hosted in Carnduff. The team won 14 sets and lost only one during the provincial tourney.”
Kipling Magyars coach Monica Olson comments on her team:
“It has been a very eventful and successful volleyball season for these dedicated athletes,” said Olson. “After going through the fall of 2020 with just six weeks of practice, it was a dream come true to have a full season of practices and tournaments. The team started strong, winning the Mega Volley tournament in Arcola and Carlyle on Sept. 10th. Then adversity struck in mid-September when the team captain separated her right shoulder and Kipling School became a COVID-19 hotspot.
“This meant that their home tournament was cancelled and some team members missed practices and tournaments. But the team fought back and found a rhythm in mid-October when they placed third at a 15-team tournament in Moose Jaw, featuring many large schools. The girls also won the tournament in Esterhazy on October 23rd.”
The competition in the playoffs leading to provincials was fierce, she said, but the team persevered and earned their spot by placing second at regionals.
“At the 3A Provincial Championships in Shellbrook, the team went undefeated until their hard fought final match against Carnduff. They came home proud with silver medals, knowing that they made history at their school and that they would renew their goal to compete at the provincial championships again. These girls are an inspiration to many as they develop into highly skilled players and wonderful young ladies. Well done Magyars.”
Other southeast teams competing in provincials this past weekend. The Gordon F. Kells High School Cougars, coached by Trent Johnson and Sara Campbell, played in 2A Girls in Naicam. They went 4-0 in their Pool B standings and lost to Harvest City in the playoffs.
The Wawota Parkland Wildcats, coached by Jill Sweeting, played in 1A Girls in Davidson/Loreburn. They went 3-1 in their Pool B standings and lost out to Edam in the playoffs.
