The best high school volleyball teams across Alberta battled it out at école des Beaux-Lacs for with the provincial championships on the line.
The best high school volleyball teams across Alberta battled it out at école des Beaux-Lacs for with the provincial championships on the line.
For the first time, école des Beaux-Lacs played host the Alberta Schools' Athletic Association Tier 1 girls volleyball championships. The tournament ran from Nov. 23 to 25, with games taking place at both Beaux-Lacs and Dr. Bernard Brosseau Elementary School.
Opening ceremonies took place Thursday, Nov. 23, where each of the 12 competing teams received kind words of welcome.
"We appreciate the hard work and dedication required to reach this destination, and look forward to celebrating it with you. Regardless of the result, every single athlete is a winner," said Beaux-Lacs principal Margo Moyen.
The host Attaque came out firing hoping to put on a good show for their local fans. They moved through the round robin with little resistance, finishing second in their pool with a record of 4-1. As a result, they earned themselves a showdown with the Boyle Huskies in the quarterfinal.
It looked to be smooth sailing for the Attaque when they took the first set handily, but the Huskies were able to claw their way back in a second set that needed overtime. With the match on the line in the final set, neither team was willing to give an inch.
The lead changed hands several times in the final set, with both teams executing well offensively and performing timely blocks. The teams would once again need overtime to settle the match, with the Huskies earning the dramatic final point and a 16-14 victory.
"All you can ever ask of your kids is to play their hearts out, and I don't think you could have seen a better match than that. Those kids were down a lot and I just looked them in the eye and asked them, do you believe? They came out flying, opened up a lead, and almost closed it out," detailed Attaque head coach Troy Gratton.
While it wasn't the result they wanted, the Attaque can hold their heads high knowing they put together one of the best seasons in school history.
They collected a total of six gold medals on their way to hosting the ASAA'S, including one from a dominant performance at the Bonnyville Centralized High School (BCHS) Classic.
"This has been by far the best school season I have ever had. These kids were great; they had a lot of mental toughness. We won six out of eight tournaments, to me that's a championship season. Advancing further would have been the icing on the cake, but if they're going to give me an effort like that, how can I ask for more?" expressed Gratton.
The Huskies would carry momentum from the narrow victory into the finals, where they would meet the undefeated Eaglesham Sonics.
Eaglesham continued their dominance throughout the final and proved they were the best in the province. Despite the Huskies best efforts, the Sonics would take the match and the gold medal.
