SWAC Media Report: Volleyball
By Valerie Gordon
SHSAA PROVINCIAL VOLLEYBALL
The 5A SCCHS Ardens attended Sask High School Athletic Association (SHSAA) provincials in Weyburn on the weekend! Swift Current was the top ranked team heading into the championship, and even though they were challenged in a few matches, the squad did not disappoint. They came home with the GOLD medal.
The Ardens finished pool play tied for first with two other teams with identical 3-1 records. The team had 2-0 wins over PA Carleton, Weyburn, Saskatoon St Joseph and their only loss was to Regina Campbell (2-1). After the tie break was applied to the three teams, the Ardens were awarded first in their pool.
In the playoffs. They defeated Regina LeBoldus in the quarter finals and avenged an earlier loss to St Joe’s by beating them 2-0 in the semifinal. Swift Current then played Balgonie for the GOLD medal. They cruised through the first set (25-15) and battled back to win the second set in a thriller (25-23). The Arden team is 2024 5A provincial champions. Congratulations!
Swift Current Colts were at the 5A boys provincial championship in Balgonie. They finished second in their pool (wins over PA Carlton, Regina LeBoldus, Regina Winston Knoll). Their only loss in pool play came against Saskatoon Aden Bowman, the eventual silver medalists (2-1). In the quarter finals, the Colts crossed over to play Saskatoon St Joseph (eventual gold medalists). It wasn’t meant to be this season, and the team lost a heartbreaker (2-1) and were eliminated from the playoffs.
SHSAA BOYS REGIONAL VOLLEYBALL
3A Shaunavon was in Clavet for their Regional championship. The team lost both pool matches, 2-0 to Unity and a tough 2-1 loss to Biggar. The Shadows did not advance to the playoff rounds.
2A Ponteix also lost out after pool play at their regionals at Ecole Mathieu. They lost pool games to eventual champions Regina Harvest City (2-0) and lost a heartbreaker to Eston (2-1), The Ponteix team's season ended before the playoff rounds.
Cabri, Frontier and Consul boy’s teams were at the Cabri Regional tournament on October 16 (commissioner Kendall Wicks). Cabri lost both pool matches to LeRoy and Consul and their season came to an end. Frontier had a win over Perdue and a loss to Annaheim in pool play and Consul won both their pool play matches (over Cabri and Leroy).
That set up an all southwest semi final pool crossover, which Consul won (2-1). Consul moved on to the Regional final vs Annaheim. It was a very closely contested match with Annaheim prevailing 2-1 (16-14 in third set). Consul advances to the 1A boys provincial championship as the #2 seed out of this regional.
Frontier had one more chance to advance. They played in the third place match and the winner of that would qualify for provincials. The Raiders fought hard, but came up short and lost the match (2-0).
Good Luck to Consul at 1A Provincials in Medstead next weekend!!
Start Dates for Winter Activities
The SWAC/SHSAA curling season officially started on Monday, November 4. Doubles curling is now an SHSAA medal sport. SWAC will be offering a “learn to play doubles’ clinic in the next few weeks for our teams.
Wrestling and Basketball seasons begin on November 18. There will be a SWAC senior league and a junior basketball league organized for schools. SWAC is also going to bring in 3 vs 3 basketball this season. Anyone who watched 3 vs 3 during the Summer Olympics knows what an exciting sport it can be. SWAC is hoping schools take advantage of this opportunity to introduce the sport to their students.