The Moose Jaw High School Athletic Association boys and girls volleyball leagues will have a new look designed to increase competitiveness when the new campaign opens on Tuesday night.
With six teams in each league, teams will play a five-game round robin through Oct. 11 before seeing the clubs put into two tiers, with the top three teams in Pool A and bottom three in Pool B. The season will then close out with a three-game round robin and regular standings, though no team in Pool B can move to a higher rank than a team in Pool A.
The move will ideally see far closer and competitive games in the latter half of the season as teams are slotted in with those nearer their level of play.
For two teams, the season will mark an attempt to keep their ongoing dynasties moving forward.
The Vanier Vikings will look to make it a half-decade of winning when they shoot for their fifth-straight boys city title after defeating the Assiniboia Rockets in the title game last season.
The Peacock Toilers will be seeking their fourth-straight championship thanks to a win over the Central Cyclones in their city gold medal game in 2023.
From there, teams from the two leagues will look to continue their provincial success, with the Assiniboia Rockets the defending 3A boys champions and the Briercrest Christian Cougars coming off a silver medal performance in the 3A girls division last season.
Action in the girls division begins on Tuesday night with the Cornerstone Christian School Falcons at Briercrest Christian at 6:20 p.m., Vanier Spirits at the Peacock Toilers at 8 p.m. and Notre Dame Hounds at Central Cyclones at 8 p.m.
Boys league play features Vanier at Peacock at 6:20 p.m., Assiniboia at Central at 6:20 p.m. and Cornerstone at the Avonlea Eagles at 7 p.m.
The regular season continues through Oct. 26, followed by the quarter-finals on Oct. 31 and semifinals on Nov. 2.
The city championship final will take place on Nov. 8 at Sask Polytech
