A number of area teams have earned themselves spots in the provincial volleyball championships happening this coming weekend.
The last of the regional playdowns wrapped up this past weekend and a number of teams from the Northwest were successful, though a few did go home disappointed as well. Here is a rundown of some of the action over the last couple of weeks of playdowns.
In 4A boys action in Unity over the weekend, the home team beat Biggar but lost to La Loche in pool action, and then were eliminated in the North Regional Championship by Eagleview. LaLoche and Eagleview now head to Oxbow to compete in the 4A championships this weekend.
In 4A girls action both Unity and Macklin advanced to the championships in Assiniboia. Both teams won their pool games and then won their games in North Regional action in Macklin Nov. 9, with Macklin defeating Clavet 2-0 and Unity defeating Martensville 2-0. Macklin then defeated Unity to win the region, but both go on to Assiniboia.
In 3A boys action Thunderchild moves on to the championships in Waldheim looking for their first school medal in volleyball. This past weekend in Wilkie, they went 1-1 in pool B but beat Wilkie in the playoffs to set up a match with Beauval Valley View in the final. Thunderchild lost the regional final 25-13 but still advance to provincials.
In 3A girls, Maidstone moves on to Watrous for provincials. Their last appearance was in the 4A championship in 2011.
At north regionals in Maidstone, in pool action the girls beat Beauval Valley View 2-0 and lost to Pelican Lake 2-0, before beating Lashburn and Rossignol (Ile-a-la-Crosse) to win the region.
2A boys action will see Edam and Lashburn advance to provincials in Hepburn. In north regional play in Edam, Edam went 3-0 and Lashburn 2-1 in pool play against St. Walburg and Neilburg. In the regional playdowns Edam beat Cut Knife and Lashburn lost to Goodsoil. Edam beat Goodsoil in the final to claim the region, with Goodsoil also qualifying as runner-up. Lashburn beat Cut Knife in the consolation game to advance as well.
In 2A Girls action Wilkie and St. Walburg advance to Wolseley for provincials. Wilkie's last medal was 3A gold in 2009 while St. Walburg missed the playoff round in 3A last year. Wilkie finished as runner-up to Hepburn in the west region Nov. 9, while St. Walburg was runner up to Pierceland in the north regionals.
Finally in 1A boys action Medstead moves on to Colonsay for provincials there. Medstead was the fourth place finisher in 2012.
They advanced to provincials this year by winning the North Regional over Dinsmore in Outlook on Nov. 16.
