The Moose Jaw High Schools Athletic Association boys and girls volleyball leagues usually don’t have a whole lot on the line this time of season, but a new pool play system has made the games coming up on Wednesday, Oct. 11 that much more important.
With the top three and bottom three teams moved into separate pools after the series of games that night, squads sitting in the middle of the pack will be looking to pick up big wins.
Once seeded, the two pools will play a three-game round robin, with the bottom pool teams unable to finish any higher than fourth regardless of their record.
To that end, both the Central Cyclones on the boys side and Cornerstone Christian School Falcons on the girls side picked up important wins on the Tuesday, Oct. 3 league night.
For the Cyclones, a 25-20, 19-25, 25-20, 25-17 win over Cornerstone saw Central improve to 3-1 on the season and move into second place, all but locking down a spot in the top pool.
Cornerstone dropped to 2-2 and are tied with the Vanier Vikings -- who fell 25-23, 25-20-25-23 to unbeaten Assiniboia (4-0) -- for third place. Peacock (1-3) took a 25-15, 26-24, 26-24 win over Avonlea (0-4) in a battle of teams that will see action in the lower pool.
As fate would have it, Cornerstone will be at Vanier in the final pre-pool round-robin game on Oct. 11, with first serve at 8 p.m. Other contests have Central at Avonlea (7 p.m.) while Assiniboia is at Peacock (7 p.m.) to close out the first half.
In girls league action, Cornerstone emerged with a 23-25, 25-22. 25-20, 25-19 win over Central to see both teams now sitting at 2-2.
Reigning city champion Peacock (3-2) locked down a spot in the top pool with a 25-8. 25-19, 26-24 win over Briercrest Christian (0-4), while the defending provincial champion Vanier Spirits remained unbeaten at 4-0 thanks to a 25-20, 23-25, 22-25, 23-25 win over the Notre Dame Hounds (2-3).
Both Central and Cornerstone are in action on Oct. 11, with Cornerstone at Vanier (6:20 p.m.) and Central at Briercrest Christian (6:20 p.m.).
