The season has begun for the collection of volleyball teams representing Estevan Comprehensive School.
The high school is fielding six teams this year: boys and girls squads in the senior, junior and freshman categories.
The senior boys team is coming off a year that saw them start provincials red-hot before losing to a strong Meadow Lake team in the quarter-finals.
Senior boys coach Nathan Johnson said there are plenty of Grade 12s on this year's team.
"We've got a real strong group of returning players, so expectations are pretty high."
Setter Keiron Gallipeau is back for his third year as a starter, while power hitters Kale Little and William Tabbernor return. Grade 10 student Carson Perkins joins the team as a right side hitter. Layton Stropko and Logan Hertes will be key players in the middle.
"It was great to get all our returning Grade 12s back. We were a little uncertain on some of them coming back," said Johnson.
The Elecs have already played in two tournaments. In Weyburn Sept. 6-7, they lost only one round-robin game, against Oxbow, before beating Weyburn in the semis and losing to Oxbow in the final.
This past weekend, the team played at a University of Saskatchewan tournament in Saskatoon that featured 24 teams.
The Elecs went 4-1 in the round-robin, losing their only game to Prince Albert Carlton. They got a tough draw in the quarter-finals, losing to Prince Albert St. Mary's.
"It was good to go up there and see where the level of competition is at," said Johnson, noting that both Prince Albert teams are strong, as well as Meadow Lake.
They will play a tournament at the University of Regina this weekend. Their home tournament is Oct. 4-5.
Meanwhile, the senior girls will hold their home tournament this weekend, running Friday and Saturday. They have already played in two tournaments, travelling to Regina Sept. 13-14 and Weyburn this past weekend.
The freshman girls team has their home tournament on Oct. 11, with the junior girls hosting theirs a week later.
Senior regionals are Nov. 8-9, with the boys in Moose Jaw and the girls in Swift Current. Provincials are the next weekend, with the boys in Weyburn and the girls in Yorkton.
