It has been an encouraging couple of weeks for the Estevan Comprehensive School senior boys' volleyball squad.
One week after finishing fifth at a 16-team invitational in Moose Jaw, the Elecs were the runners-up at a tournament in Yorkton.
The tournament held on the weekend, hosted by Yorkton Regional, featured 12 teams, including many of the provincial contenders from Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
The Elecs posted a 4-1 record in round-robin action, defeating Kelvington, Moose Jaw Peacock, Yorkton Sacred Heart and Oxbow before losing to Prince Albert St. Mary's in straight sets in their final game.
That gave them a second-place finish, pitting them against Weyburn in the quarter-final.
The Elecs won that game in straight sets to advance to the semis, where they faced the juggernaut Yorkton Regional Raiders. After losing the first set, the Elecs came back and defeated the Raiders for the first time this season.
The Elecs' opponents in the tournament final were too much for them though, as the Central Cyclones, ranked first in the province, won in straight sets.
"Keiron Gallipeau distributed the ball well on the weekend, getting the ball to the power hitters, William Tabbernor and Austin Orsted, who led the team's attack," said Elecs head coach Nathan Johnson.
"Right side Kale Little and middle blocker Jolan Lingelbach also contributed significantly at the net, leading the team in blocks."
Orsted and Gallipeau tied for the team lead in aces on the weekend.
Meanwhile, the Elecs also had a strong showing on the Oct. 27 weekend in Moose Jaw.
ECS began the tournament with a real highlight, defeating Central in their first match. The Cyclones' had won every tournament they had played in this year, but that streak came to an end that weekend.
The Elecs then split with Oxbow and beat Mossbank to earn first place in their pool.
On Saturday, the Elecs squared off against the other three first-place teams in the second round of the round-robin.
They split sets with Prince Albert Carlton and Swift Current and then lost in straight sets to Yorkton Regional, which set up a quarter-final match against Winnipeg Garden City.
The 2011 Moose Jaw tournament champions narrowly defeated the Elecs, 26-24, 26-24, sending the Elecs home tied for fifth.
Central defeated Winnipeg in the final.
With their regular tournament season over, the Elecs now head to the 5A boys' south regional in Swift Current this weekend.
Other teams competing in the southern regional are Yorkton Regional, Balgonie, Moose Jaw Central, Moose Jaw Peacock, Moose Jaw Vanier, Weyburn and Swift Current.
Finishing in the top three would send the Elecs to the 5A provincial championship in North Battleford the following weekend.
