Just one week into the school year the YRHS hosted its annual senior girls volleyball tournament over the weekend as top local and provincial teams filled the Regional gym to kick off their seasons. The tournament kicked things off with a Gladstone Battle matchup between the Regional and Sacred who were both placed into Pool A for the tournament. An entertaining first set saw Sacred pull out a comeback from being at set point to winning 27-25 after a few missed opportunities to close out the set for the Raiders. In the second set more of the same competitive play was on display for the packed YRHS gym as the Lady Raiders pulled out a 25-22 victory in the second set, ending the round robin matchup with both teams almost exactly dead even.
The round robin format was based on set wins/losses with each team in the pool playing two sets against each other, the YRHS and SHHS ended up qualifying for the knockout rounds with the Regional finishing fourth in the pool with a .500 record in the round robin winning and losing four sets apiece. Oxbow ended up winning their Pool A with an 8-0 record, taking every set in the round robin. The Saints lost their quarterfinal matchup to Prince Albert Carlton ending their weekend early. The Raiders drew Foam Lake in the quarterfinals and after winning the first set seemed to look good for advancing into the semi-finals and the guarantee of a chance to play for at least bronze.
However a very physically imposing Foam Lake team put it together in the second set, overpowering the Raiders with a mixture of attacks, blocks, and well placed serves to easily force a third set. In the deciding third set more of the same was on display as after a 8-6 break lead for Foam Lake, the small school turned the corner and took a majority of points to end the Raiders weekend in defeat.
Both Yorkton teams represented the city with class and the YRHS put on a competitive opening weekend of volleyball with both teams showing promise of being able to improve throughout the season with added practice and development.
