The JPII Crusaders senior boys volleyball team, pictured here with their gold medal plaque from last weekend. (Submitted photo/Shelly Fransoo)

By Martin Martinson

High School Athletics

Surging Crusaders senior boys host home volleyball tournament

Sep 29, 2023 | 5:27 PM

The John Paul II Collegiate gymnasium is alive with school spirit this weekend, as the senior boys volleyball team host their home tournament Friday to Saturday, Sept 29-30.

While a little bit of a smaller tournament in in the midst of ongoing renovations taking place at the school, the weekend features six teams from around the region between the 4A and 5A levels.

The tourney kicked off at 2 p.m. with the host Crusaders’ coming off on the right foot in their first game at 3 p.m., taking a straight-sets victory over Humboldt.

The Crusaders’ seniors entered the tournament having played some of their best volleyball of the season of late, coming off a gold medal performance in Meadow Lake last weekend, despite missing a few key players due to injuries and other commitments.

“We were down personnel, but with the bench smaller everyone just stepped up,” coach Shelly Fransoo said ahead of the weekend.

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“It was just really nice to see that we could put different athletes out into different positions and they knew they had to step up. We really saw some gains in confidence and that shined through as we managed to walk away with the gold medal.”

A young team this year, the Crusaders feature just four Grade 12s, two Grade 11s, and then eight Grade 10s between the full-time and practice roster, though what they may lack in age, they more than make up for with experience.

“We do have some very strong seniors and kids who play the club season all year long with Team Sask experience, so we have some great leadership as well,” Fransoo noted.

Much of the seniors’ Crusaders’ experience also comes from just a season ago, when the team made a run to the provincial final where they took home a silver medal.

Following their opening win over Humboldt, the Crusaders will return to action for their next game at 6 p.m. against Moose Jaw Central. The North Battleford Comprehensive High School senior boys will also play one more game Friday evening at 7 p.m. against Moose Jaw Central, after opening the day against Lloydminster Comprehensive.

The playoff rounds for the weekend tournament will begin Saturday at 4 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1