Heading into the Moose Jaw High School Athletic Association boys volleyball season, there was a feeling things could be close at the top, and it turns out that’s exactly how things are playing out in the early going.
Three teams are tied for second place at 2-1 after league action on Thursday night, with the match-up between the defending league champion Vanier Vikings and the Central Cyclones offering a good example.
The Cyclones came into the contest with a 1-1 record but managed to pull off a sweep against the unbeaten Vikings at Vanier, winning the first set 25-13 before pulling off a come-from-behind 25-23 win in set two and finishing off with a 25-14 win in the deciding game.
The defending 3A boys provincial champion Assiniboia Rockets have been the class of the league thus far, and shown they can win close games in the process.
After taking a five-set win over Central in their opening match -- including a 16-14 victory in the final game -- the Rockets opened play this week with a five-game 25-19, 22-25, 22-25, 25-15, 15-10 win over the Cornerstone Christian School Falcons and rolled to a 25-12, 25-13, 25-12 win against the Avonlea Eagles on Thursday to improve to 3-0.
Vanier took a 25-16, 25-15, 25-20 win over Avonlea (0-3) in their first game this week, while Central defeated Peacock (0-3) in their match-up.
The other boys game Thursday saw Cornerstone stake their spot in second place with a 25-20, 25-11, 25-21 win over Peacock.
The Vanier Spirits have been the class of the girls league through the first two weeks. They improved to 3-0 on the campaign Thursday with a 26-24, 25-11, 29-27, 25-19 win over the Central Cyclones (2-1) after going to five games with the Briercrest Christian Academy Cougars (0-2) and taking a 25-22, 25-13, 14-25, 18-25, 15-4 win Tuesday.
The defending city champion Peacock Toilers improved to 2-2 on the season thanks to a 17-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-19 win over Cornerstone (1-2)
Central picked up a 25-20, 21-25, 23-25, 23-25 win over Peacock on Tuesday, while Notre Dame (1-2) landed their first win of the season, defeating Cornerstone 25-23, 14-25, 26-28, 25-14, 15-9.
Boy league action continues Tuesday, Oct. 3 with Vanier at Assiniboia (7 p.m.), Cornerstone at Central (8 p.m.) and Avonlea at Peacock (8 p.m.)
In girls league play, Cornerstone is at Central (6:20 p.m.), Briercrest is at Peacock (6:20 p.m.) and Notre Dame is at Vanier 7 p.m.
