It was a golden weekend for Edwin Parr Composite’s senior high volleyball teams in St. Paul.
Both the boys and girls teams took part in the tournament, and both made themselves at home, going unbeaten on their way to the gold.
“We started playing volleyball the way I was hoping we eventually would. Things started to fall into place,” said girls coach Joe Mireault. “They came together as a team.”
The girls team was up against Old Scona from Edmonton in the finals, and lost the first set by a score of 25-23. Then they took the game over.
“The last two sets, the girls just kicked it into high gear and went after it. We won those ones handily,” said the coach.
The girls had never seen any of the teams they played at the tournament before, making their big win all the more impressive.
“I’m definitely proud of the girls and how they represented the school,” said Mireault.
“I think we’re beginning to realize how good a team we have. It was an all around great weekend for us.”
Not to be outdone, the boys team matched their counterparts and won gold as well.
They went undefeated in the round robin before rolling through Old Scona, St. Paul and Vermillion in the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals, respectively.
The biggest challenge came from the host team, according to coach Chad LeMessurier.
“We knew if we got through them, it’d be looking good for us to win the tournament,” he said.
They lost the first set against St. Paul, but won the next two to clinch their spot in the final where they beat Vermillion in two sets.
“The guys played quite well,” said the coach, who noted their last tournament, played in Edmonton against bigger schools from around the province, must have motivated them when they got back to playing teams their own size.
“Something’s changed. Our guys have learned how to battle a little more,” he said. “We’re a veteran team and we’re starting to play that way; with maturity.”
LeMessurier was happy to see both EPC teams have great weekends.
“The morale is high. We’ve got two really good volleyball squads. It’s time for us to start winning tournaments like these.”
