Volleyball zone banners handed out across region
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The first banners of the high school volleyball season were handed out Nov. 5, as athletes across the province look to add to their school’s gym walls.
The Zone 13 A and AA varsity championships were held last week, with four different schools winning their respective championships.
There was a bit of an upset at the AA girls level, as the St Joachim Braves took down top-ranked Gabrielle-Roy in Lac du Bonnet.
The Gabrielle-Roy Les Roys were second in the provincial top 10 rankings heading into the championships, with St Joachim not even ranked. The Braves took out 10th rated Landmark just to make the semi-finals, where they defeated the hosts.
In the final, St Joachim got revenge for their two league losses this season to Gab-Roy, winning 2-0 (25-21, 25-15).
Gabrielle-Roy’s boys team is once again moving up divisions to compete at the AAAA level. Les Roys were ranked as the sixth best team in the province in the provincial top 10 rankings released Nov. 3.
Winning your zone isn’t enough to get a berth to the provincial championships at the A/AA level, as teams play in qualifying tournaments across the province Nov. 15. Gabrielle-Roy will be hosting one Nov. 15. Rosenort will also be hosting AA varsity girls teams, with Morris hosting a boys AA qualifier.
The Zone 13 boys final came down to a final set, as Landmark and hosts Green Valley battled. The Grunthal-based Green Valley Pirates were able to win that third and decisive set, celebrating with the banner inside their home gym.
The A boys finals were also won by the hosts, with the Pointe des Chenes Cavaliers taking care of North Region visitors Wanipigow and Whitemouth in the semis and final to claim the banner.
The girls championships saw the St Pierre-based Real Berard Jaguars squeak past Wanipigow in a three set final. After losing the first set 25-19, the Jaguars dominated the second and third, only allowing 17 points across the two decisive sets.
The boys and girls AAA Zone 13 championships will take place Nov. 17 in Niverville and Beausejour respectively.
The Steinbach Regional Sabres boys and girls varsity teams both had a strong regular season, as the South Central Athletic Conference playoffs began Nov. 10.
The Sabres finished first in both the boys and girls standings, with the boys ranked as the best team in the province by the MHSAA rankings.
The Sabres played semi-final games against Glenlawn after press time Nov. 12. The SCAC finals will be held Nov. 14.
For more photos from zones, be sure to check out Carillon Sports Second Shots, published every Wednesday at www.thecarillon.com/sports.