Both of Hapnot Collegiate’s senior varsity volleyball clubs played at provincials down south last weekend, ending their seasons with strong performances.
Hapnot’s varsity Kweens team took on all comers in Lac du Bonnet in the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association (MHSAA) AA provincials Nov. 30-Dec. 2. On the same days, the school’s senior Kings were in Ile-des-Chenes doing the same thing, playing in AA boys’ provincials.
On the girls’ side, the Kweens started out well in pool play, finishing second in their five-team group with a 2-2 record. Hapnot took wins against St. Paul’s from Elie and against Rosenort, but lost a three-set heartbreaker to Major Pratt 27-25, 23-25, 13-15 and took a second loss to a powerhouse College Gabrielle-Roy team 20-25, 20-25.
That result was still good enough to make the eight-team, single-elimination playoff round. There, Hapnot would be pitted against another powerhouse squad, the Warren Wildcats. Warren took a big first set win and, despite the Kweens fighting back in the second set, Hapnot would be handed a 13-25, 22-25 loss and would be sent home early. Warren and Gabrielle-Roy would later meet in the provincial final, with Gabrielle-Roy winning the provincial title 25-20, 25-18 - Hapnot gave the eventual champs a tougher test in the round robin.
The boys had difficulty in pool play, finishing with a 1-3 record with losses to MacGregor, Rosenort and the host College Gabrielle-Roy squad. The Kings’ sole win came against the winless Carberry Cougars, who Hapnot beat 25-20, 25-23.
Hapnot advanced into the playoff round, but faced a tough out immediately, playing against the top team in the other pool, the undefeated Major Pratt/St. Lazare co-op team, consisting solely of Grade 12 players. With four players listed at 6-foot-2 or taller, the co-op squad dominated their pool. Hapnot gave the team a test, but ultimately fell 16-25, 19-25 and were eliminated. Gabrielle-Roy ended up claiming the provincial title, beating Major Pratt/St. Lazare, claiming the title on their home court and getting the school their third provincial title of the weekend - Gabrielle-Roy’s junior varsity girls also took a provincial title last weekend.
The season is now over for Hapnot volleyball, claiming three Zone 11 titles over the year. Hapnot’s athletic program will now transition to the basketball season, which will take place through December and early 2024.
Seven Kweens listed on the team’s roster on the MHSAA website - Morgan Burwash, Callie Erickson, Kaitlyn Fieber, Sara Mansell, Addie Neill, Jayla Roberts and Ava Williams - are Grade 12 students and have therefore played their final high school volleyball games. Six Hapnot Kings also saw their high school volleyball careers come to a close - Hendre Gouws, Hunter Hynes, Kenny MacDonald, Kenny Morris, Bobby Smith and Carson Taylor.
