The Estevan Comprehensive School Sr. Boys' Volleyball Team participated in provincials this past weekend. While they did not claim the title, the Estevan squad gave it their all, battling through several tough matches and challenges.
Coach Bryton Such expressed pride in the team's performance, noting that they were up against some of the best teams in the province. Despite facing an injury to one of their key players, the team fought hard in every match, showcasing resilience and determination. The teams score through the tournament saw them come away one win, and three losses with the St. Joseph's Saskatoon clinching the top spot in the tournament.
“I'm absolutely so proud of the way that we played this weekend. Being a super young dominated team, it was really, really encouraging to see us playing against the top ten teams in the province and really holding our own. We played some super super tight matches,” said Such.
An injury in the team's second game put a slight hitch in the plans with Such noting that the other players were able to step up, even in positions they may not be used to playing.
“It was really awesome because in my opinion if you were to take away one of every other team's best players. I think that that tournament turns into a different story, but that's the cards that we were dealt and I'm super proud of the way that the boys responded and played this weekend.”
Reflecting on the experience and the season overall, Such emphasized the importance of volleyball being fun. “Volleyball is supposed to be fun. You’ve got to go out there and execute your skills, but at the end of the day, it's about having fun out there, enjoying a sport that you guys like and being a part of a group of boys that you enjoy being around.”
The provincial tournament marked the end of the season for Estevan’s Sr. Boys volleyball team, but Coach Such remains optimistic about their growth. “Throughout the season, you work on everything. These guys aren’t professionals, so they need to continue to grow on every skill. It’s just about being in a peak performance state at the right time during your season.”