There was a dramatic contrast of results for the North Battleford Comprehensive High School Vikings senior girls' volleyball team in their first two tournaments of the season.
After a tough result at a tournament at the University of Regina a week earlier, the Vikings bounced back in style by picking up the gold medal at their home tournament Saturday.
“We were missing quite a few players last weekend so we used that tournament to try out a few players in some roles that they might not have been used to,” Vikings head coach Jana Friedenstab said.
“We still have a lot of work to do as we go forward but the girls really picked up their game this weekend and they played well together.”
The Vikings went a perfect 6-0 over the course of the two-day tournament, which also featured the John Paul II Crusaders, Tisdale Tornados, Meath Park Mustangs and Hafford Viqueens.
“The girls really know how to fight back,” Friedenstab said. “Whenever they were down in a set they were able to claw back and get a win out of it.
“The defensive side of the game is one thing that we can clean up a little bit. That’s just a matter of the girls knowing where they need to be in certain situations.”
The Vikings defeated the Crusaders in an all-North Battleford final, as they prevailed in three sets (25-23, 22-25 and 15-11) in what turned out to be a back-and-forth affair.
“That was a very exciting way to finish up the tournament,” Friedenstab said. “They have a really good team this year and it was nice to play them in a setting like this.”
Despite the loss, Crusaders head coach Shari Dueck was ecstatic with how her young team played in the first tournament of the season.
“We have a lot of new faces here this year so the biggest thing that we told them was to go out and have some fun this weekend,” Dueck said.
“They're already starting to come together as a team and they are doing well in challenging situations. I was really impressed with their attitude all tournament as they never gave up, even when they were down by a few points.”
The Crusaders will be travelling to Unity this weekend for a tournament before taking part in a number of exhibition games that are currently being scheduled.
The Vikings, meanwhile, have a number of tournaments on their schedule as they gear up to host the 5A SHSAA North Regional event in November.
“Only the top three teams go to provincials from the eight teams that are in our region,” Friedenstab said.
“It’s always a tough competition, especially with the two Prince Albert schools there, but we’re looking forward to the opportunity of being the hosts.”
They will travel to Prince Albert this weekend for tournament hosted by the St. Mary Marauders.
