The Osler Valley Christian Academy (VCA) Lions left no doubt who was the best 3A volleyball team.
The Lions won every game they played in the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association provincial tournament hosted by Unity on November 26 and 27.
VCA Coach Tyler Golding said the team’s success was a result of hard work and dedication.
“I truly believe we worked harder than any other team this season,” said Golding. “We struggled with our serving and mental toughness to start the year off. The guys put in extra work every single day at lunch hour and we served thousands of balls this month. We also really focused on body language and how to communicate with each other when things are not going well.”
On the team’s playoff success, Golding added: “It was great to see them battle adversity and stay level-headed in the last two weekends and play with a level of confidence and focus that I have never seen before on any of my teams.”
Golding started the volleyball program nine years ago and the team had won two bronze and three silver in past provincial competitions. Now the school can add a gold medal to add to that total.
The squad defeated Assiniboia 25-8, 25-13, Lashburn 25-16,25-22, Kipling 25-15, 25-17, and Unity 28-26, 25-20 to finish first in pool B play.
In the quarter-final playoffs they topped Dalmeny 25-18, 25-12 and advanced to the finals with 25-21, 25-15 wins over Carnduff in the semi-finals.
The championship game was another barn-burner against the host Unity Warriors, with the Lions coming out on top with two 25-21 wins.
Carnduff took the bronze medal with 25-21, 25-21 wins over Saskatoon Christian.
Other provincial results:
1A Muenster-gold , Rouleau-silver, Annaheim-bronze
2A Wilkie-gold, MJ Cornerstone- Silver, Maidstone-bronze
4A NB John Paul II-gold, Meadow Lake- silver, MJ Central- bronze