The Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) Elecs senior girls volleyball team had a dominant showing at their annual home tournament on the weekend.
The Elecs went a perfect 9-0 at the competition, losing only two sets during the entire weekend.
“The team did a really good job of coming together as a team and playing together,” said coach Nicole Rogalski. “We had really strong offence. Some of the girls had some really good hits, which got us some good kills, and they meshed well together.”
A total of eight teams entered this year’s competition. Joining ECS were Carlyle’s Gordon F. Kells High School, the Carnduff Education Complex, Lampman School, Midale Central School, Moose Jaw Central, Yorkton Sacred Heart and Saskatoon Christian School.
ECS went 7-0 in the round robin and advanced to the semifinal, where they defeated Carnduff 2-1 in the best-of-three matchup. Then they won 2-0 in the final versus Carlyle.
“Our girls came out really strong, and had a really good game,” said Rogalski. “Carlyle put up a good fight, but we wound up winning the game.”
The tournament was the Elecs second of the year. Previously they went to the University of Regina tournament, where they finished eighth out of 32 teams.
Serving and passing have seen improvements since that first tournament, she said.
“Passing is always a big thing when it comes to our defence, so if we can’t get a pass, it’s hard to make a play, but they did really well on that. Playing the other teams with our serves, so pushing them deep with a short serve they did really well at that.”
The Elecs lost only two players from last year’s team. They have five Grade 12 players, and lots of them have played club volleyball, so they have been keeping their skills sharp.
Upcoming competitions for the Elecs include the University of Saskatchewan tournament in Saskatoon this weekend, followed by events in Lloydminster, Oxbow and Langenburg.
ECS will host regionals on the Remembrance Day long weekend.
They also have their annual Co-op Challenge showdown with the Weyburn Comprehensive School Eagles. The challenge will see the senior boys and girls volleyball teams meet in a best-of-four tournament somewhat similar to the McLeod Series basketball games.
The games in Estevan will be Oct. 9, starting at 5:30 p.m., and the games in Weyburn will be the following week.
Rogalski believes accomplishments such as winning the home tournament will give the Elecs momentum for the Co-op Challenge.
“It’s the first time in a couple of years that we’ve won, so it gives them a good step forward with facing Weyburn, because Weyburn’s always a hard challenge for us. But knowing where we are right now, I think it will be a good step forward into that game.”
