Both of Hapnot’s senior varsity volleyball clubs took first place in a tournament in Swan River, beating northern and southern opponents to get there.
The senior Kweens and Kings took a clean sweep of top spot at the Doug Oberlin Varsity Volleyball Tournament, held at Swan Valley Regional Secondary School Oct. 6-7.
The Kweens were placed in a four-team pool to start the tournament, facing the Swan Valley junior varsity Tigers and Frontier Mosakahiken Grizzlies, as well as the Norquay Panthers. Hapnot won all six sets they played in that pool round, beating Swan Valley 25-14, Frontier Mosakahiken 25-7, 25-8 and Norquay 25-7, 25-12 and finishing in first place.
Heading into the playoff round, Hapnot would play Camperville’s Minegoziibe Anishinabe Talons, beating them 25-9, 25-7 and setting up a semifinal matchup with Swan Valley’s senior team. After a 25-15, 25-21 win, Hapnot would enter the tournament final against the Leroy Lightning. Up against a smaller school, the Kweens took the top spot handily, striking the Lightning down with a 25-17, 25-7 win and claiming first place.
On the boys’ side, the Kings went 5-1 through their four-team pool round, beating Swan Valley 25-15, 25-14 and Minegoziibe Anishinabe 25-10, 25-11 but splitting sets with The Pas’ Margaret Barbour Collegiate (MBCI) 25-19, 23-25. Regardless, it was enough to finish first in the pool.
In a four-team championship playoff involving both pools’ two top teams, Hapnot would face northern rivals Frontier Mosakahiken, beating them 25-17, 25-11 to advance to the finals and a rematch with MBCI. In the rubber match, the Kings took a close first set 25-22, then closed out strong with a 25-19 second set win to clinch the title.
The senior Kings will be back in action in Ste. Rose later this month.
The volleyball season will continue on until early December, with senior provincials taking place in Lac du Bonnet for the girls and in Ile-des-Chenes for the boys, both from Nov. 30-Dec. 2.
Hapnot will play host to junior varsity girls’ provincials Nov. 23-25, while MBCI will host the boys’ provincials the same weekend.
