The Estevan Elecs captured the annual Co-op Challenge Wednesday night at Weyburn Comprehensive School in a night full of intense volleyball action, and some off-court drama.
The WCS Eagles came into the night trailing in the four-game challenge, with Estevan having taken both matches in the first leg, played in Estevan on October 9th. This would mean the Eagles needed a strong performance in both of the games in front of their home crowd.
The raucous environment in the Eagles Gym at WCS didn’t do much to help the senior boys team in the first game of the night, as Estevan took the match in straight sets. While this meant the Elecs had essentially won the challenge, the senior girls’ squad from Weyburn would be playing for pride in the final game of the night.
The final game would need five sets to determine a winner, and in the 5th set, the Elecs were up 13-12 when the fire alarms at the school sounded, prompting everyone to evacuate while fire crews ensured things were safe. When the all-clear was sounded, the teams, and the fans, returned to the Eagles Gym.
Once play resumed, the Elecs would hold off Weyburn and came away with a 16-14 win in the final set to take the match.
While the Elecs took the glory of the Co-op Challenge, both Estevan and Weyburn high school students are already looking ahead at the next inter-school competition between the two long-time rivals – the McLeod Series. The four-game, total-point basketball series is traditionally played in February, however no firm dates for the series have been announced as of yet.