Playoff action is underway today at the annual SAPEC junior high volleyball tournament with 58 best-of-three matches scheduled.
Bellerose Composite High School and Vincent J. Maloney School are the venues for the 20-team girls’ competition. Paul Kane and St. Albert Catholic high schools are hosting the 20-team boys’ draw.
In the tier II bracket, the start time for the finals and third-place games is 3:30 p.m. at Bellerose for the girls and Paul Kane for the boys.
At 4:30 p.m. is the tier I finals and third-place games for the girls at Bellerose and the boys at Paul Kane.
Last year’s tier I champions were St. Hilda of Edmonton for the girls and the Lorne Akins Gators for the boys.
St. Albert and area teams include Lorne Akins, Vincent J. Maloney Marauders, William D. Cuts Crusaders, Sir George Simpson Voyageurs, Elmer S. Gish Warriors, Richard S. Fowler Falcons, ESMMY Leopards, Ecole-Alexandre Tache, Morinville Wolves, Camilla Thunderbirds, Namao Royals and Sturgeon Heights Eagles.
The Lorne Akins boys and the Simpson girls are the defending SAPEC city champions.
The tournament is sponsored by the St. Albert Physical Therapy & Sports Injury Clinic.
The St. Albert Raiders make their home debut today in the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League.
Game time against the Lloydminster Bobcats is 1:15 p.m. at Akinsdale Arena.
Sunday the Raiders skate against the Maple Leafs at 2:15 p.m. at Bill Hunter Arena.
In the preseason the Raiders won five and lost one.
The first match between the Paul Kane Blues and Holy Trinity Trojans since the 2010 metro Edmonton premier women’s volleyball final starts at 4:45 p.m. Monday at Holy Trinity High School.
Paul Kane is 3-0 in league play after sweeping the winless Archbishop Jordan Scots on Wednesday at Paul Kane. The Trojans are 3-1.
In the provincial rankings, Paul Kane is seventh in 4A as the fourth-highest Edmonton zone team. The sixth-ranked Bev Facey Falcons and Paul Kane are the only metro teams to crack the top 10. The Trojans are perennial 3A provincial contenders.
At the 4A provincials Paul Kane finished eighth last year after placing seventh in 2009.
Last year Paul Kane swept the Trojans in league play and in the final went the distance to win its first premier women’s volleyball championship in school history by scores of 25-11, 25-20, 17-25, 29-31, 15-7.
In the 2009 semifinals the Trojans snapped Paul Kane’s winning streak of 12 matches in premier, en route to capturing the playoff crown.
Also on tap next week for Paul Kane is Wednesday’s showdown with the St. Albert Skyhawks (3-1). Game time is 6:15 p.m. at the SkyDome.
