The St. Albert Skyhawks and Morinville Wolves swing into action Thursday afternoon at the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association 3A women’s provincial volleyball championship in Bonnyville.
In pool A the Skyhawks, 14-1 (44 GW/15 GL) as metro Edmonton division one finalists, play the Catholic Central Cougars (South) and Friday’s matches are against the St. Paul Saints (North East), Springbank Phoenix (South Central) and Peace Wapiti Academy Titans (North West – wildcard). The last match before the playoffs is Saturday against the H.J. Cody Lakers (Central – wildcard).
The first pool B tilt for the Wolves (North Central) is against the St. Martin de Porres Kodiaks (Calgary), followed by Friday’s matches against the St. Joseph’s Ceinahs (North West), Bonnyville Roadrunners (North East – host) and W.R. Myers Rebels (South – wildcard). Saturday’s match is against the Ponoka Broncos (Central).
The top three teams in both pools qualify for the crossover playoffs and the first-place teams advance into the semifinals.
The Skyhawks are competing in their third provincials as silver medallists in 2013 and fifth-place finishers at 4-2 last year.
The Wolves finished 3-3 last year in their first trip to provincials since 2002.
Meanwhile, the Morinville men’s team (North Central – wildcard) also qualified for provincials in Grande Prairie. Last year’s fourth-place team spike the ball in pool A Thursday against St. Martin de Porres (Calgary), Friday against the St. Joseph’s Celtics (North West), Strathcona Christian Academy Eagles (metro Edmonton) and Catholic Central (South – wild card) and Saturday against the Strathmore Spartans (South Central).
Pool B consists of the Barrhead Gryphons (North Central), Eagle Butte Talons (South), H.J. Cody (Central), Louis St. Laurent Barons (metro Edmonton – wildcard), Peace Wapiti (North West – hosts) and the North East champions.
Visit www.asaa.ca for the provincial websites.
The 18th annual Mike Dea Classic tips-off Thursday for the Bellerose Bulldogs in high school men’s basketball.
Game time is 2:30 p.m. against the Spruce Grove Panthers at the St. Francis Xavier Sports Centre.
At 8:30 p.m. the Bulldogs play the M.E. Lazerte Voyageurs or Medicine Hat Mohawks.
Visit www.stfrancisxavier.ecsd.net for the 16-team draw.
Last season in metro Edmonton division one the Bulldogs finished 2-13 for 14th place out of 16 teams and in league play won their first game since the 2011/12 campaign, 73-64 over the Edmonton Christian Lions (1-14) after nine losses to start the season.
