The Yorkton Regional High School (YRHS) recently held its annual volleyball awards night to recognize the players and teams for their hard work and accomplishments this season. As well, individual players were presented with awards for their exceptional contributions to the various teams.
Senior Lady Raiders coach Lee Poncelet says the girls didn't post a lot of wins this season but they played and worked hard every week and made opposing teams play well. "If they didn't play well, we beat them," Poncelet declares. As a result the team earned a lot of respect. Players were eager to learn how to play well offensively and defensively. Off the court the Lady Raiders were polite and well mannered, he adds. He says he will miss the graduating players and their families who have become good friends along the way.
Senior Raider head coach Dion Pfeifer and assistant coach Darren Teneycke presented the awards to the senior boys. The players always represented themselves, YRHS, and the school division with the utmost respect both at home and on the road trips.
While he admits to pushing the boys hard at times, Pfeifer says he did so to make them the best volleyball players possible.
The Senior Raiders reached the quarter finals in all tournaments they attended with the exception of the one in Edmonton. They won a silver medal in their home tournament and won the Sacred Heart tournament. The boys hosted the southern regionals where they played their best volleyball of the year to claim the gold medal. Provincials were tough as the Raiders were eliminated in the quarter finals, losing to the eventual gold, silver and bronze medalists. "It was a job well done for the year, losing to the top three teams in the province," Pfeifer declares.
Junior Lady Raiders (Grade 10 girls) coach Jennifer Ingham says the team was composed of talented players who could play any position, any time. The Junior Lady Raiders placed third at a tournament at Thom Collegiate, and second at their home tournament.
Grade 9 boys' coach Darren Wandy opened by thanking his assistant coaches Doug Ingham and Jimmy Mak for their valuable assistance throughout the season. Wandy also expressed his appreciation to Mrs. McBride and Mr. Needham, among others, who helped with the team as he had commitments which occasionally prevented him from being present.
The junior boys finished the season with a record of 13 wins and 12 losses. "We had a pretty solid team this year," Wandy comments. The multi-talented team members were generally involved in many sports.
The boys were dedicated to the program and to becoming better volleyball players, Wandy says. The Junior Raiders were runners up to Melville at districts, claiming a silver medal, he reports.
Wandy thanks the school division for having the foresight to support athletic programs which have turned out successful volleyballplayers as well as successful individuals in adult life. He acknowledges the contributions to the program by Dennis Pomeroy, Dion Pfeifer and Darren Teneycke.
Grade nine girls' coach Dee Dee Walker reports the Grade Nine Lady Raiders' season started with a tournament at Sacred Heart High School one day after team tryouts. The girls had to learn the systems very quickly and finished fourth in the tournament.
Their second outing at home saw the team claim second place to Melville St. Henry's. The loss set the team's goal for the season, to beat Melville St. Henry's, Walker states.
They claimed a bronze medal over Stockholm at a tournament in Melville, after falling to Sacred Heart in the semi-final.
The team was on the road a lot Walker notes as practises were often replaced by exhibition games, she reports.
Advancing to the district championship, the Grade Nine Lady Raiders downed Kamsack to advance to the final against Melville St. Henry's. St. Henry's claimed the first game. The girls persevered and fought back, dominating and winning the next two games to claim the district title at Churchbridge. "It was wonderful to finish off our season with that win," Walker declares.
