The University of Winnipeg Collegiate Wesmen girls’ volleyball team have finished their season after being knocked out early during the Nov. 27-28 provincial tournament at Balmoral Hall.

The MHSAA ‘AAA’ Varsity Volleyball Championships went to the Sanford Sabres, who claimed a narrow win over Calvin Christian (25-13, 25-23). The Wesmen girls lost just two games overall, once early on to the Sanford Sabres (25-17, 15-25, 6-25) and finally to Calvin Christian (24-26,14-25) on Saturday, knocking them from the tournament. Ozana Nikolic, # 19, of the U of W Collegiate received an All-Star award.

This defeat is particularly disappointing considering the ease with which the team dispatched their earlier competition during round robin game play on Thursday, Nov. 26. The girls steamrolled both the Flin Flon Collegiate Kweens (25-19 and 25-13) and the wildcard Winnipeg Wings (25-13 and 25-17), earning them the second-place seed in the provincial match-up and warranting the team some optimism.

“The girls have done awesome, they’ve had a great season so far,” said head coach Mike Lodewyks as Thursday’s game play reached its conclusion.

The first day of tournament play was just as inspiring, with the team slamming its way through the Linden Christian Wings (25-13, 25-17), the Swan Valley Tigers (25-17, 25-8), and a second round with the Kweens (25-19, 25-13).

However, the tournament ended for them early day two, and with it, their season.

“The tournament didn’t turn out how we had hoped, but it was a good experience,” said Veronica Izydorczyk. “Next year, we’re definitely going to come back looking for revenge.”

On the boys’ side, the Neelin Spartans were crowned AAA Champions, with Linden Christian in second place. Chloe Reimer of Sanford and Blake Majcher of the Neelin Spartans were the tournament MVPs.

Published in Volume 64, Number 14 of The Uniter (December 3, 2009)