Throughout the Moose Jaw high school volleyball season, the Vanier Spirits senior girls went about their business with a serious eye to the future.
That ended up showing up in the standings, as the Spirits posted a 6-0 regular-season record and rolled through their semifinal to emerge as the favourite for the city championship.
The goal, of course, is to improve as much as possible for when the provincial playdowns come around -- and when you’re hosting one of those championships, well, the push to win become that much more of an imperative.
All of which puts Vanier into a pretty solid position heading into the regional qualifiers this weekend.
With their spot in provincials locked up as tournament hosts Nov. 17-18, the Spirits will be playing for seeding in their six-team regional at Regina Johnson this weekend.
They’ll be joined by the Central Cyclones and Peacock Toilers in vying for four berths in the provincial tournament. As a result, should the Spirits reach the gold medal or bronze medal game, the remaining three teams will automatically advance to provincials.
Central opens their tournament at 6 p.m. Friday against Lumsden, while Vanier takings on Johnson at 7 p.m. and Peacock battles Lumsden at 8 p.m.
Vanier faces Regina Luther at 1 p.m. Saturday in their final round robin game before Peacock and Central do battle at 2 p.m. in a contest that could very well decide their provincial fate.
The top two teams from each three-team pool advance to the playoffs, with the semifinals at 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., the gold medal game at 6 p.m. and bronze medal game at 7 p.m.
Briercrest Christian Academy will be in action at the 3A girls regional in Lanigan and will take on Maidstone and Lanigan in their two round robin games. Three of six teams will advance to provincials in Indian Head.
The Cornerstone Christian School Falcons are in Kenaston for their 2A girls regional and face Raymore and Kenaston in their round robin. The top two teams advance to provincials in St. Walburg.
The high school boys volleyball conference championships take place this weekend, followed by regionals Nov. 17-18.
