No bus needed: The senior boys Vikings volleyball team will look to make the most of home court advantage this weekend, as the team will play in front of friends and family at the NBCHS gymnasium. (Submitted photo/Shawna Sturk)

By Martin Martinson

Bump it up

Vikings senior boys to host home tournament this weekend

Oct 25, 2019 | 4:40 PM

It is sure to be a loud and ruckus scene at the North Battleford Comprehensive High School this weekend, as the senior boys’ Vikings volleyball team will host their home tournament Friday and Saturday at the school gymnasium.

Family, friends, and fellow students alike will take to the edge of their seats during the action, as the Vikings’ boys will look to make some noise against the competition.

The team will be looking to build on a fourth-place finish in Prince Albert last weekend, as the boys fell just short of a podium finish for their effort.

Assistant coach of the Vikings senior boys, Heather Berezowski is currently in her first season behind the bench with the team. She said while they have had some pretty good finishes in tournament play this year, there has been an overall emphasis on building a foundation to be a competitive group moving forward.

“We are a fairly young team with only one Grade 12, so it has been a little bit of a learning year for the team,” she said. “We have gone to six or seven tournaments and lost in the bronze medal game last weekend, so we have had some good finishes, but we are young and we are learning.”

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But better than results on the scoreboard, Berezowski said, is the way the team has come together to bond as a unit, led by senior, Cody Greening.

As the lone graduating player on an otherwise largely inexperienced senior team, the coach said Greening has played a pivotal part in motivating and encouraging his teammates to bring out their best each day they hit the court.

She said that example has trickled down throughout the lineup, as the team at large have made communication a top priority both on the court and off.

“As a coaching staff it is all about communication in our eyes,” Berezowski said. “Whether you are winning or losing, it is [about] how you are treating your teammates and talking to your teammates. I think the success of this team has been their communication and that genuine team feeling for all of the boys.”

Following this weekend’s home tournament, the Vikings senior boys will return to the road for one final regular season tournament in Prince Albert on Nov. 1 and 2. After that, it will be on to regionals, also hosted in Prince Albert.

Regionals will take place the Nov. 8 and 9 at Carlton Comprehensive High School. If the team places top three at the tournament, they will advance to provincials.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1