JPII's junior boys and junior girls' teams each took home the gold to cap their seasons at Districts this week. (submitted photos/John Paul II Collegiate)

By Martin Martinson

Top of the podium

Crusaders junior volleyball teams take tandem gold at Districts

Nov 8, 2022 | 6:00 PM

The John Paul II Collegiate junior girls and junior boys volleyball teams capped off their seasons with a bang Monday, each taking home a gold medal as Battle West District Champions.

The junior girls locked up the gold in their home gym at the high school, while the junior boys topped the podium in Spiritwood.

The junior girls went undefeated through round robin play at 4-0, beating North Battleford Comprehensive High School, Macklin and Maymont on their way to the playoff rounds. In the semis, the team then topped Wilkie, followed by a victory over Unity in the finals to be crowned District champs.

The junior girls’ Crusaders pictured here with their gold medals and championship banner as 2022-23 Districts champs. (submitted photo/JPII Collegiate)

It was the third gold medal of the season for the Crusaders girls, and the fifth medal for the team altogether.

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Head coach, Brent Puff said he was proud of the way the team brought their best on the biggest stage of the season.

“The girls played really well and we served probably the best we’ve served all year; they reacted well and played great defence so it turned out to be a great day for us,” Puff said.

With as many as six players from the junior girls’ team eligible to return to the squad next year, Puff said it only bodes well for the junior program moving forward, after seeing the team’s growth and improvement throughout the season.

“Some [of the players] had lots of volleyball experience and some not quite as much, but they all worked hard and got better throughout the year,” he said. “It was a good group of girls and it made for a strong year.”

The junior boys team won their gold medal in Spiritwood, also winning all four of their round robin games on their way to the playoff rounds.

The junior boys’ Crusaders pictured here with their gold medals and championship banner as 2022-23 District champs. (submitted photo/JPII Collegiate)

There, the team topped Kerrobert in straight sets of the semis to advance to the finals, where the Crusaders’ boys would come back from a first-set loss to win two straight over Wilkie taking the final game 15-11 en route to the championship.

Head coach, Janet Benoit said the team’s determination played a big role in their success.

“The kids played with lots of heart and they’re a team that never gives up which really turned out well for them. They never get down and never get defeated,” Benoit said.

The Districts win was the junior boys’ fourth gold of the season in five tournaments.

The school’s senior volleyball teams will now gear up for Regionals tournaments the next two weekends.

The Crusaders’ senior girls will travel to Meadow Lake for Regionals play this Saturday, Nov. 12, while the senior boys will host regionals in their home gym at the high school, next Saturday, Nov. 19.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1