After sneaking into the provincials with a win in the third place game at the North Regional in Warman last weekend, the Carlton Crusaders girls’ volleyball team are couniting to ride that momentum against the top teams in Saskatchewan.
Following the first day of round-robin play at the SHSAA 5A championship in Saskatoon, the Crusaders find themselves in first place with a 3-0 record in Pool B ahead of a match with the 2-0 Regina Campbell Tartans at 11:15 a.m. Saturday.
The Crusaders picked up a straight set win over the event host Holy Cross Crusaders of Saskatoon, won a three-set thriller over the Balgonie Greenall Griffins and wrapped up Friday’s schedule with a straight set triumph over the North Battleford Vikings.
The Crusaders and Vikings are currently tied for third place with a 1-2 record, while the Griffins sit at the bottom of the pool with an 0-3 mark.
Meanwhile, the defending provincial champion St. Mary Marauders are looking to keep their playoff hopes alive at 11:45 a.m. Saturday as they currently have an 0-3 record going into a match with the 0-2 Winston Knoll Wolverines of Regina.
Friday’s slate of games could have gone either way for last year’s gold medalists, as the Marauders went the full three sets with the Weyburn Eagles, Swift Current Ardens and the Bishop James Mahoney Saints of Saskatoon.
The Eagles and Saints are currently tied for first place in Pool A with 3-0 marks, while the Ardens are in third place with a 1-2 record.
The playoffs will get underway at 12:45 p.m. at Holy Cross, with the gold medal game taking place at 5:45 p.m.
