ST. PAUL – The annual boys’ and girls’ St. Paul Athletic Association (SPAA) senior high volleyball championships saw the same powerhouse teams that battled in the finals last year once again face of for the 2023 championship.
In the boys’ division, Glendon faced Two Hills in the semi-finals, while F.G. Miller played against Mallaig.
Once again, it came down to Mallaig facing off against Two Hills in the championship game. The first set was a tight back-and-forth, until the momentum slowly shifted to Mallaig.
Two Hills tried to catch up, but in the end, Mallaig ended up winning the first set 25-21. The second set was equally as intense, but Mallaig ultimately won the championship in two sets.
JP Dechaine, head coach of Mallaig, said the victory felt special for the teams’ players, particularly for the Grade 12 students. “So, for them to win, it’s special,” said Dechaine.
He also commended Two Hills for their strong performance. “It’s always a friendly competition” against Two Hills, said Dechaine. “It’s gone either way all years. So, for us to win in the end was nice.”
The team now looks forward to going to the zones this week. Dechaine feels confident, stating, “We have a very strong chance going to the provincials... we’re just going to keep pushing ourselves to get there.”
Girls
In the girls’ division, Two Hills defeated Mallaig in the semi-finals, while F.G. Miller defeated Ashmont, qualifying for the championship game.
Just like the boys’ division, the championship game for the girls’ side mirrored that of last year. In the end, F.G. Miller defended their banner from their rivals with a 25-18 victory in the second set, once again winning this year’s SPAA banner.
Jonathan Randall, coach for F.G. Miller, said it feels great to win the banner three times in a row. “The girls worked hard this year,” he said.
Over the last few years, every time F.G. Miller and Two Hills played, it has been very close, according to the coach. “It could go either way.”
So, he feels proud for the Elk Point girls’ team stepping up and coming out as the champions.
Randall said F.G. Miller also now looks forward to the upcoming NEASAA zone tournaments. “We’re ranked number one, but in my mind, that doesn’t mean anything unless we go there and prove it,” he said.
The coach feels confident, noting F.G. Miller has a strong core of Grade 12 players this year.
