Yorkdale Central Public School followed up the YESSA City championships from two weeks ago with an invitational tournament at the school gym.
Yorkdale Central principal and tournament co-ordinator Shaune Beatty said it was both a boys tournament and girls tournament.
Teams involved included nine girls' teams and four boys' teams. Teams came from Yorkdale Central, MC Knoll, St. Michael's, Saltcoats and the Mackenzie Middle School based out of Dauphin, MB.
According to Beatty, the MMS continued to wreak havoc on the volleyball courts.
"On the four-team boys' side, MC Knoll edged Yorkdale in a three-set semi final, but as it did all day, the MMS (Dauphin) team would prove to have an upper hand on any opposition. It swept the final in straight sets."
Beatty also added that he wasn't surprised, adding that the only thing that was surprising was a tournament of this nature wasn't kickstarted ages ago.
"Mackenzie is more volleyball mature than we are. I personally know some of the players have at least four years experience playing. They looked bigger, and they served us tough. I think it was the girls' grit and ability to play as a team that kept them going. I do think we played better as a team. They just had some individual players that performed well.
Beatty said he has some experience in the game in Manitoba and noted that the province is strong for volleyball players of most age groups.
Beatty, who used to serve as a Manitoba provincial coach and on the Grassroots Committee of the Manitoba Volleyball Association, has set a goal to have 12 girls teams and eight boys teams for next years event.
"Manitoba is traditionally a stronger province when it comes to volleyball. We went to Dauphin's home tournament about five weeks ago, and we barely eked out a playoff position before placing seventh or eighth. For us (Yorkdale Royals) to play very well through the round robin, uphold our edge over MC Knoll, avenge our earlier loss to the one Mackenzie team and then push their senior team as far as they have been pushed all year reflects the growth of our volleyball skills and our efforts as a team. I am very proud of my girls."
On the girls' side of the tournament, says Beatty, eight teams advanced to the playoffs with two teams from MMS Dauphin, MC Knoll, and the host Yorkdale gold still remaining in the semi finals. The MMS Gr. 8 defeated the MMS 7 and Yorkdale Gold teams, solidifying its win in the YESSA championships earlier in the week, swept past MC Knoll to set up the final.
The fans that observed the final saw a spirited event that included offence and defence characteristic of more experienced levels than of middle years volleyball in the area. MMS 8, which included many players formerly coached by Beatty in his past community and club, won the first contest, 25-19. Yorkdale Gold was determined to extend its season in every way as it battled to a 30-28 win to force a third and deciding set. Despite going point-for-point half way through the match, Yorkdale was forced to submit its host tournament by a 11-15 score.
