Smashing Bananas Volleyball wraps up season at nationals

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On Day 2, the Bananas played three more matches, defeating Vibe Volleyball of Alberta in three sets before dropping a three-set decision to Barrie Elites Blizzard of Manitoba. The Bananas finished the day with a win in an all-Saskatchewan matchup, defeating Regina Volleyball Club White in three sets. 

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On the final day, the Bananas qualified for the Tier 9 playoffs with a 2-4 record, setting up a rematch against the Spurs of Manitoba. The Bananas lost in straight sets to end their tournament. 

While the record may not fully reflect how much the players improved, Vedress said the group has plenty to be proud of. With five players still eligible to play U16, he said they raised their game far beyond expectations. 

“Our guys were just going out to develop and play and have fun, and actually we, in my opinion, exceeded expectations, especially with having an inexperienced coach behind them this year. So again, so proud of how these guys did.” 

The biggest takeaway from the season is that the Bananas’ younger players stepped up on a big stage. Before the season started, the Bananas needed a new coach, and Vedress said he had not played volleyball since 1989. 

“They needed someone to step up and do it, I wanted my kid to play, so I said I’ll take the online courses that I’ll coach. So whatever these guys did, whatever this team did, they did on their own. I was just the adult in the room that allowed them to go and compete and go.” 

Vedress said he saw plenty of growth from his young team this season and believes it will lead to an even stronger squad next year. The biggest development, he said, was the growing confidence of players once they learned they could compete at this level. 

“We had some guys that were a little intimidated when they started the year because they are so young and there’s a big difference between someone that just turned 16 and someone that’s closer to 19 physically when you’re playing a game like volleyball. We just watch them grow into their positions, and we start to own it and that’s on them. They put a ton of work in and they started to believe in what they can do and what they could do as a team, not just individually.” 

The Prince Albert Smashing Bananas are now done for the 2026 season. Tryouts for the 2026 team were held in September 2025 and will likely follow a similar schedule for the upcoming season. 

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nick.nielsen@pattisonmedia.com