(Submitted/Natasha Kostyniuk )

By Nigel Maxwell

Volleyball playoffs

Aardvarks set to host 3A Provincials

Nov 18, 2021 | 3:00 PM

Shellbrook’s W.P. Sandin High School is hosting the 3A girls provincial volleyball championships this weekend.

Natasha Kostyniuk is a teacher at the school and the team’s head coach. She told paNOW there’s a lot of excitement and energy around the school and the community.

“The whole entire school, especially the staff, has been working together to get everything completed and done,” she said. “Everyone is asking me if we need help.”

The school was originally scheduled to host provincials last year, but due to COVID-19, all high school sports programs across the province were spiked. This year, the team placed third at the conference championships, and then went 0-2 at Regionals last weekend in Lanigan

“That was a wonderful opportunity for us to experience new competition that we haven’t had before,” Kostyniuk explained. “So we are excited to be able to host provincials and experience new competition but also have our community open to other teams from across the province.”

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Due to the weather this week, there’s been no buses running, which has had an impact on the team’s ability to practice with a full squad. Kostyniuk assured that the team’s spirit has not been broken.

“We are just working on communicating on the court and having as much as energy as possible and recognizing that we are here to have fun and take advantage of the opportunity we have been given,” she said.

Marisasa Skavlebo plays some defence at the net. (Submitted)

Team captain Marissa Skavlebo is a Grade 12 student at the school and said the team is very excited about the upcoming weekend. She also acknowledged they all missed playing last year.

“We had to a do a little bit of catch up after missing a whole year of volleyball which was kind of a bummer but I’m really glad to be able to get back on the court now,” she said.

More volleyball action this weekend

Prince Albert’s St.Mary girls are the 5A provincials in Swift Current.

Both the St. Mary and Carlton boys’ teams are in Saskatoon to compete at 5A Provincials.

The Melfort and Meadow Lake girls’ teams are playing in Moosomin at the 4A Provincials.

Naicam and St. Brieux will be hosting 2A girls’ Provincials with teams from Carlyle to Pinehouse showing up to compete.

Melfort Comprehensive is hosting 4A Boys Regionals and there will be teams there from Tisdale, Humboldt and Nipawin. Meadow Lake is at the tournament in Saskatoon at E.D. Feehan High School.

Meath Park, Birch Hills and Bellevue are represented this weekend at the 2A Boys’ Regionals.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell