The JP II Collegiate Crusaders were a 7-0 at 4A provincials in Moose Jaw, dropping just one set. (submitted/Shelly Fransoo)

By Josh Ryan

JP II win

Gold medal mission complete for JP II Crusaders

Nov 30, 2021 | 8:45 AM

The pathway to any provincial champion is a long one, but for the 2021 4A winning John Paul II Collegiate boys volleyball team, it began more than two years ago.

North Battleford’s catholic high school saw the boys program rise quickly to the forefront when the hosted the 2019 tournament. After losing in the final, Coach Shelly Fransoo said they had championship aspirations the following year, but became one of many programs hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We had predominately all the same team members in 2020, so moving into 2021 we were excited to compete, because we knew that we could be competitive,” she said.

Now that the team has finally achieved that year-end peak with their gold medal performance in Moose Jaw over the weekend, Fransoo said it’s a satisfying feeling to look back on the journey.

“That’s what you work towards all season, the ultimate goal to be provincial champions in the category you’re placed in,” she said. “To be able to finish your high school career with a provincial gold medal around neck is certainly something to be very proud off.”

band politics

Bernatchez resigns as LLRIB councillor

7h ago

fire threat

Ramsey Bay ordered to evacuate

8h ago

police work

La Ronge man charged following shooting

8h ago

The Crusaders went a perfect 7-0 at provincials, losing only the opening set of the tournament against the host Vanier Collegiate. The rest of the way was quite smooth, including a dominant straight sets win in the final over Carpenter High from Meadow Lake, the team that had beaten them in the Regional final a week prior.

Coming off of that previous loss, Fransoo said the team was incredibly focused

For our practice plan, we looked at what we needed to do and put it into place for provincials,” she said. “The end result definitely tells you that we were prepared for this weekend.”

What she was more proud of her players than even the result, was seeing lessons from training coming to fruition. The team had worked hard on each player’s “volleyball IQ”, where they could make quick adjustments in the middle of rallies.

Fransoo said the average fan or parent in attendance may not have picked up on a middle attacker adjusting to being keyed on by the opposing block, a left-handed setter making a conscious effort to vary the offence with a deceptive attack on second contact or the team showing discipline out of system and still generating offence.

(submitted/Shelly Fransoo)

“It was just really nice to see that all come together this weekend and have them rewarded for their hard work,” she said. “That comes a lot with the confidence are athletes had in each other and in their skills.”

And that growth is cause for optimism when looking at the future. JP II loses five seniors from the team, but they retain nine players heading into 2022.

“We have a solid foundation going into next year,” Fransoo said. “We’re excited that we can still be competitive and everyone across the province changes in some way too, so we won’t be the only team losing key players.”

—

josh.ryan@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports