        The 15U Â鶹ÊÓƵeast Saskatchewan Vipers had a fantastic year as they played their hearts out during every opportunity they were given.
               This past weekend, April 25 and 26, was no different as they participated in their provincial championship held by the Saskatchewan Volleyball Association. Here they competed and earned eighth place in the province out of 38 teams.
               At the beginning of the year the girls, who come from across southeast Saskatchewan, were ranked last as they were a new club. Having never played together before the girls came together from Manor, Stoughton, Arcola, Lampman, Estevan, Wawota, Redvers, and Bellegarde.
               Going into provincials the girls were ranked 14th after competing in Sask Cups throughout the year. At the competition during the round robin the girls took on Prince Albert Fusion, Ile a la Crosse TNT, and Regina QCVC Black. Finishing first in their round robin led them to their first cross-over match versus Warman where the Vipers earned a win to go into a second cross-over match with the Swift Current Jr. Sun Dogs who were ranked fourth going into the provincial competition.
               The Vipers fought hard, were played well, and the loud cheering section from the bench helped the girls defeat the Sun Dogs to reach Tier 1. Undefeated all Saturday the girls were tired and sore, but their spirits were high as they entered Sunday.
               Every game on the Sunday was a fight. The girls proved they were amongst the best teams in the province as they took on Prince Albert En Feugo. PA En Feugo would go on to take fourth place in the province, while the Vipers gave them a good battle to get there. The Vipers won the first set 25-18, went to a hard fought second set where they lost 28-26, and lost in a battling third set at 17-15.
               The girls then took on the Moose Jaw Element Panthers, but were unable to earn the win though they went to another three set match. During this game a Sask Volleyball rep had been watching and presented Vipers’ captain, Katelynn Hutt of Lampman, with a Player of the Game award for her efforts on the court.
               The Vipers final game would be a match against Lanigan Blue. Again the game went to three, with scores of 28-26 for Lanigan, then a 28-26 win for the Vipers, sending them into a third set which went to 16-14.
               The first two sets go to 25, while the third set goes to 15, but you have to win by two points meaning the girls battled their hearts out and were amongst the best of the best in the province where they belonged.
               The coaching staff was extremely impressed by the level of dedication, determination, and fun these girls kept up throughout the entire year. They were the definition of what a team is and did a phenomenal job this year coming together from across the southeast in their first year playing club volleyball.
