(Twitter/PA Carlton)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Underdog Crusaders boys ready for 5A volleyball provincials

Nov 17, 2021 | 1:49 PM

The Carlton Crusaders senior boys volleyball team are considering themselves underdogs as they head into the 5A Boys Volleyball Provincials Friday and Saturday in Saskatoon.

But Crusaders head coach Curtis Bender said his underdogs may have some bite, as his young group has improved throughout the season and giving the best teams in the province some tough matches.

“I honestly think we can be right there. We can compete. We’ve played all the top teams in the province really well this year,” Crusaders head coach Curtis Bender said. “I’m just hoping we can peak at the right time, catch a couple of teams off guard and you never know. You just try to get in those playoffs and hopefully we can surprise a few teams.”

The Crusaders qualified for the tournament after winning their first two games of the regional tournament in Lloydminster on Nov. 13. The Crusaders beat North Battleford in straight sets, both by a 25-12 margin. They then defeated Warman in three sets, 25-17, 14-25, 15-12 to qualify for the provincials. They then lost to hosts Lloydminster 25-17, 25-17, but still qualified for the playoffs. They lost the seeding game to the undefeated St. Mary Marauders 25-16, 25-21.

“Our confidence is growing. We’re a really young team, so at the start of the year, there was a lot of learning. We made a lot of mistakes,” Bender said. “But now, we’ve been together for a while, getting that experience and being in tough matches has really allowed us to build our confidence and knowing that we can play with any team in the province.”

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The Crusaders will take on Swift Current at 2:15 p.m. for their first game of the provincials, and then will take on St. Mary quickly thereafter at 4:15 p.m. On Saturday, the Crusaders will take on Saskatoon Centennial at 9 a.m. and Regina Martin at 11:15 a.m.

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW