By Jeff D'Andrea

Marauders boys undefeated in day one of provincials

Nov 18, 2011 | 9:13 PM

The St. Mary Marauders have the chance to win their third consecutive SHSAA 5A Senior Boys Volleyball Provincial title this weekend as the tournament is being hosted in town. After day one, they’re on top of their pool with a 3-0 record and can wrap up a first place ranking from their pool with a win Saturday morning against Regina Balfour.

But the day started out as an adventure for the Marauders, the top seeded team in Pool B, taking on the fourth seeded Estevan Elecs at SIAST.

After losing the first set 23-25, the Marauders rebounded to dominate the second set 25-12. Then mayhem ensued.

The Marauders and Elecs traded points for about what seemed like forever, with the Marauders eventually winning the final set 31-29. The Elecs had a 24-22 lead in that set, but failed on back-to-back match points and the Marauders forced the set into extra-points. The Marauders had five match points before finally securing the 31-29 marathon set win.

“In the first game we were hitting the ball out of bounds and not blocking, but now we’re starting to focus on the things that we need to, to be successful,” said Marauders coach Dale Regel. “I think people, particularly young athletes, have to be constantly reminded that it’s never easy. When you’ve had a little success, you think that it should keep coming and you forget what got you there.

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“You have to keep working and working hard because there’s a lot of good teams here”

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The Marauders didn’t lose a set after that, making quick work of the St. Joseph Guardians 25-13, 25-18, who on paper should have been their toughest match in the pool stage as the Guardians are ranked second.

“St Joe’s is a very good team,” said Regel. “Obviously they’re the top team coming out of Saskatoon and we know several of the kids that play on that team, they have provincial team experience and they’re a very good team.”

The Marauders then beat the fifth seeded Weyburn Eagles 25-14, 25-17 to close off the day.

They will play Regina Balfour (1-1) tomorrow at 9 a.m. for their final round robin game.

On the other side of the tournament in Pool A, the Carlton Crusaders unfortunately lost all three of their Friday games in straight sets, 25-8, 25-11 to North Battleford Composite Vikings and 25-23, 25-15 to Yorkton Regional Raiders and 25-19, 25-12 to top seeded Regina Campbell.

Against the North Battleford, the Crusaders came out jittery and disorganized in the first set, as you would expect from a young club in their first provincials. They stormed out of the second set with a 3-0 flurry and a 6-2 lead thanks to some excellent striking from Crusader power Devereaux Gatin. One of his kills took down the Vikings’ team sign behind their bench.

The Vikings, however, regrouped and dominated the rest of the set. Leftside player Joseph Peters was absolutely dominant, and was actually more effective spiking from the back row—unusual and rare at the high school level.

After a well fought and spirited first set loss to the Yorkton Raiders 23-25, the Crusaders couldn’t deliver a similar effort in the second, losing 25-15.

In the third game, the tournament’s top ranked Regina Campbell Tartans proved to be too much, although the Crusaders put up a good fight in the opening set.

Although they are 0-3, the Crusaders do have a chance at a playoff berth. If they beat Saskatoon Mahoney (1-2) Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at SIAST, both teams would have identical records at 1-3.

Also, Yorkton will face the top two teams Saturday morning, Regina Campbell and North Battleford, should they lose that game.

Senior Girls Marauders

In the 5A Senior Girls Volleyball Provincials in Moose Jaw, the St. Mary Marauders are in the 0-3 to start the tournament as well, losing 25-12, 25-21 to Saskatoon Graham, 20-25, 25-12, 25-14 to Moose Jaw Peacock and 25-21, 25-10 to Regina LeBoldus.

The Marauders will face Meadow Lake Saturday morning, who are also 0-3.

jdandrea@panow.com