The R.F. Staples senior boys’ volleyball team continued it strong season, claiming top spot at an Edson tournament this weekend.
“It was a successful weekend,” said head coach Steve McKenna. “Thee kids had a good time and learned some things.”
On Friday and Saturday morning, the club played four round robin matches and went undefeated, finishing first in their pool.
That gave them a bye in the quarterfinals and put them into the semifinal versus Edson.
McKenna said they beat Edson handily in the first set, but the home team was able to rebound in the second.
“In the first set, we walked all over them,” said McKenna. “I think the boys were a little overconfident and were thinking the second set would going to be like that ... They didn’t have the same level for Game 2.”
Nonetheless, the T-Birds prevailed and won the third set against Edson, clinching a spot in the championship final against Holy Trinity Catholic from Fort McMurray, who will be hosting the 3A boys volleyball provincials this year.
McKenna said that match had a similar storyline to their game against Edson.
They dominated the first set while Fort McMurray rebounded in the second. However, the T-Birds kicked through in the third to claim the title. “It’s just about closing out and consistency with these guys,” said McKenna.
“You want them to treat every set with the same importance.”
This coming Nov. 8-9 weekend, the club heads to a tournament in Camrose to close out their regular season.
After that, they head to the 3A zone championship in Athabasca, which he believes will be a two-day tournament.
McKenna said they have to make a few changes before the zone championship, but otherwise he thinks the boys are ready “to challenge for a spot in (provincials).”
The top two teams from the zones advance to provincials Nov. 20-22.
