The Predators 15U volleyball team had an excellent weekend in Winnipeg at the provincial championships.
Entering the tournament ranked fourth, the Predators finished second in their round-robin pool. They beat the Carman Spurs and Selkirk Royals, their lone loss against Sturgeon Heights. In the qualifying round, the Predators came out on fire. They beat Russell and the Winnipeg Wild to advance to the quarterfinals.
They ran into an excellent 14U Bisons Gold, losing in three sets. Next up for the Predators was the Selkirk Royals, a team they had beaten previously. The rematch offered the same as the Predators won the match in three sets to advance to the fifth-place match. The team's tournament ended with a hard-fought three-set loss against the WinMan Tide. Out of 37 teams, the Predators finished sixth.
Dave Sigvaldason is the team's head coach.
"There were a ton of strong teams, so we knew it was going to be a tough weekend," said Sigvaldason. "I thought our girls handled it well, and to get into the quarterfinals was big for our group. To come out in sixth is something to be very proud of."
If there's one word Dave believes captures the spirit of his team, it's resilience — a relentless drive to overcome, adapt, and push forward no matter the challenge.
"One of the staples of our team, they're very good at battling. Our team has a ton of skill, but their work ethic and drive to succeed are very unique," continued Sigvaldason. "No matter what the situation is, the girls battle, and they never take defeat easily. It's a very special group to be a part of."
Next up for the team is a challenge on the national stage. The Predators are taking their talents about 10 hours down the road to compete in Volleyball Canada's national championships from May 15 to 17 at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
"We're ready for the challenge, have a couple of weeks of practice here to clean some stuff up," commented Sigvaldason. "The players are very excited."
Adding to the excitement is that this is the team's first time playing together at a national tournament. The best teams from coast to coast will be under one roof for three days of intense volleyball action.
"The excitement will be there, and I think that's something that will push the girls; they want to prove that we belong," ended Sigvaldason. "We've been playing good teams all season long, so running into to top ones from across the country won't shake us up. The team is ready to prove that they're one of the top teams in the country."
Around the Parkland, the 14U Vipers will be in Winnipeg from May 9 to 11 for the national tournament at the RBC Convention Centre.
