“We have high standards and expectations for the year guided by our level of performance last year and our returning and new athletes.”
The Saskatoon high school volleyball regular season concluded last Thursday with the St. Joseph Guardians and Aden Bowman Bears tied at 6-1 atop the boys Premiere Division standings. The top Championship Division team was the Evan Hardy Souls at 5-0.
On the girls side, the Holy Cross Crusaders are poised to defend their city championship after a 7-0 record in regular-season play. St. Joseph is in second at 5-2. The Saskatoon Christian School Royals is the team to beat in Championship Division play with a 5-0 record.
Championship Division playoffs begin today (Wednesday, Oct. 30) with Premiere Division quarter-finals set for Thursday, Oct. 31. City championships will take place one week later with the Championship Division final played on Nov. 6 and Premiere Division on Nov. 7. Provincial will get underway Nov. 15 and 16 with the 5A boys headed to Balgonie and 5A girls traveling to Weyburn. Other divisions will be played in various locations.
Following are team-by-team snapshots for all teams with head coaches providing their insights and outlook on their own team to rhe Star-Phoenix.
Boys
Aden Bowman Bears
Head coach: Adam Ewart
Players to watch
- Wyatt Lane— Grade 12, Middle Blocker. Lone Grade 12 and team leader, is a dynamic all-around athlete, but he truly shines at the net, where his powerful blocks and attacks make him a key player relied on in every game.
- Luke Walde— Grade 11, Outside Hitter. Grade 11 co-captain, is a strong all-around player with a powerful arm. He’ll be a crucial force in offensive attack, consistently delivering big hits at key moments.
- Erik Hansen— Grade 11, Setter. Holds the keys to the offence. His growth has been remarkable, and he’s now considered one of the top setters in the province, expertly orchestrating plays for the team.
Previous results
“3 wins, 7 losses.”
Expectations for this season
“The 2024 Aden Bowman Bears volleyball team is a hard working, ‘lunch box group’ that comes prepared to give it their all every day. Though we’re a young team, our players bring a wealth of club volleyball experience, giving us depth and versatility across the board. Our focus is on continuous growth throughout the season, with the goal of peaking for a strong playoff run in November.”
Bedford Road Redhawks
Head coach: Tammy Girolami
Players to watch
- Jett Sampson— Grade 12, Setter/Outside Hitter. New to the game, but has shown tremendous improvement in a very short amount of time. His outstanding athleticism and strong coachability will make him a key contributor to the team.
- Ryu Ly— Grade 10, Outside Hitter. Fresh off a provincial bronze medal in intermediate boys long jump. His jumping ability, strong ball control and fearless attitude on defence makes him a Grade 10 to keep and eye on.
- Lukas Novosel— Grade 11, Middle. Last year, he was an integral piece of of Bedford’s first junior team in recent history. Look for him to be a strong middle blocker and outstanding emotional leader for the team.
Previous results
“5th in Championship Division.”
Expectations for this season
“Our goal is to take our outstanding athletes and help them become outstanding volleyball players. We aim to gain experience during seeding, and become a competitive team within the Championship Division.”
Bethlehem Stars
Head coach: Kennedy Huntley
Players to watch
- Maurice Aranda— Grade 12, Outside Hitter. Team captain and will also be a key offensive option. In addition to his skill he also is a smart volleyball player who always makes the right decision to earn the team a win.
- Nicolas Misa-Delainey— Grade 12, Middle Hitter. Brings a strong middle presence to the team with his blocking presence and quick attacks. He also is the positive presence on the team that other guys can rely on when they need a boost of confidence and energy.
Previous results
“Third in the city.”
Expectations for this season
“This year we expect our team to finish Top-3 in our pool and move into the Premiere League come October. We look forward to see our team grow and find success throughout the season while making a push to finish Top-2 in our city and push for provincials.”
Bishop Mahoney Saints
Head coach: Aidan Beaudry
Players to watch
- John Ramos— Grade 12, Left Side/Libero. A team leader who makes a difference in the way he speaks to others.
- Darius Pudel— Grade 12, Middle. Another leader who the team looks up to.
- Nate Pudel— Grade 10, Setter. Has a lot of potential and will continue to grow as a player and person.
Previous results
4 wins, 4 losses.
Expectations for this season
“Grow and develop individual skills as well as teamwork. Try to make it out of Champion or at least find ourselves at the top.”
Centennial Chargers
Head coach: Justin Neher
Players to watch
- Nate Friesen— Grade 12, Power.
Previous results
“Quarter-finals.”
Expectations for this season
“Have a great season make it to the quarter-finals.”
E.D. Feehan Trojans
Head coach: Luke Yakuboski
Players to watch
- Players to watch include returning senior players (Grade 12): Jay Guadalupe, Neil Sadili, Karlben De Felipe, Benjamin Feliciano, Jamiel Caraan
Previous results
“Champion Division senior boys volleyball city champions.”
Expectations for this season
“We are hopeful to achieve back-to-back championship titles this year.”
Ecole Canadienne Francaise Patriotes
Head coach: Monique Kielo
Players to watch
- Kyle Woodward — Grade 11, Middle. Excellent vertical jump allows him to power over blocks.
- Linus Neufeld — Grade 11, Setter. His calm and consistent play sets the tone to the game.
Previous results
Did not play.
Expectations for this season
“Les Patriotes visent se rendre au championnat régional au niveau de la SHSAA. The Patriotes aim to make it to the SHSAA regional championship.”
Evan Hardy Souls
Head coach: Torey Stott
Players to watch
- Emery Moisan— Grade 12, Left Side. An excellent player in all areas of the court. Will be relied on for lots of attacking this year.
- Jayden Gao— Grade 12, Left Side/ Right Side. Versatile player in Grade 12 year that will be looked to, to provide leadership on the court in all areas.
- Kieran Heal— Grade 12, Setter. Excellent leader on and off the court and tireless worker.
Previous results
“Lost in the Championship Division semifinal.”
Expectations for this season
“To work hard at practice and become the best team we can. We hope to be playing our best volleyball heading into playoffs.”
Holy Cross Crusaders
Head coach: Dayton Patzer
Players to watch
- Max Szakacs— Grade 12, Setter. All star, all-around player, team leader, best work ethic in the city.
Previous results
“Second in cities, T5 at provincials.”
Expectations for this season
“Compete in the city finals as well as on the provincial stage.”
Marion Graham Falcons
Head coach: Ryan Okrainetz
Players to watch
- Jacob Olszynski — Grade 12, Right Side. A big presence on the outside. His blocking and attacking will be key weapons for the team.
- Aaron Camargo — Grade 12, Setter. His energy on the floor, leadership skills and his setting will be a big factor to how far the team can go.
- Quinn Ulrich — Grade 12, Left Side. His passing, defence and attacking are all as consistent as they come. He’ll bring his A-game every night and will be relied on in all situations.
Previous results
“Lost in the Championship final.”
Expectations for this season
“We will compete every night and hope to make a run during playoffs.”
Saskatoon Christian School Royals
Head coach: Terry Graham
Players to watch
- Nolan Vander Kooi— Grade 12, Power. Helped SCS win gold in 2A provincials last year. He played power and offside on the provincial team that placed second in the nation this summer, and he was one of the six all-stars at nationals. He has already accepted a position with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies for next year.
Previous results
“We had an exceptionally strong team for such a small school. We only lost eight matches all year. We won the SSSAD city championship and the league trophy, and won gold in the 2A provincials!”
Expectations for this season
“We lost 5 starters from last year, so this is definitely a rebuilding year. However, having the best hitter in the province, three returning Grade 12s, two tall middles, and four strong Grade 10 rookies will hopefully culminate in a two-peat at 2A provincials this year!”
St. Joseph Guardians
Head coach: Tim Magus & Josh Lipka
Previous results
“T-8 – Upset in the 1st round of playoffs as the second seed.”
Expectations for this season
“We have high standards and expectations for the year guided by our level of performance last year and our returning and new athletes. We hope to compete with the top teams in every event we enter and make it to provincials.”
Tommy Douglas Tigers
Head coach: Andrew Nelson
Players to watch
- Nebil Adam— Grade 11, Left Side. An explosive athlete with the tools to score the ball from multiple positions on the court.
- Riley Tripp— Grade 11, Middle. Passionate about the sport and has the work ethic to use his natural ability to put team in trouble attacking and blocking.
- Rylan Fugel— Grade 11, Left Side. Brings his skills from high level basketball and high jump to the volleyball court where he soars in the air and makes athletic plays.
Previous results
“0-8 in Premiere Division.”
Expectations for this season
“Competing in Premiere Division playoffs or winning the Championship Division.”
Walter Murray Marauders
Head coach: Leah Arnott
Players to watch
- Hayln Thauberger — Grade 11, Middle/Right Side. Strong leader coming off of a successful club season.
- Isak Larsen — Grade 11, Setter. Strong game sense and ability to play any position on the court.
Previous results
Three wins, five losses. 6th place.
Expectations for this season
“The Marauder boys are a young team full of talent. We expect a competitive building season.”
Girls
Aden Bowman Bears
Head coach: Derek Funk & Erika Stanzel
Players to watch
- Brynn Delainey — Grade 12, Outside hitter. Co-captain. Solid backrow defence and consistent all-around play everywhere on the court.
- Davynn Schook — Grade 12, Left Side. Co-captain. Great consistent attacks, smart player with really good defensive instincts.
- Seven returning Grade 12 players on the roster will make for a really driven team with strengths at every spot on the floor.
Previous results
“Championship Division champions.”
Expectations for this season
“The goal is to win multiple games in the playoff rounds.”
Bedford Road Redhawks
Head coach: Emily Humbert
Players to watch
- Alaina Reid — Grade 12, Middle/Outside. In her third year with the senior program. Fresh off a podium finish in the 80m hurdles last spring, her outstanding athleticism and unbelievable coachability have made her into a standout on the volleyball court.
- Diana Prytula— Grade 12, Middle. Her ball control and service pressure make her a solid leader on the team. She too has been with the program for three years, and has continued to grow her volleyball skills at a steady pace. Look for her to be a leader from the service line.
- Ayesha Khan, Zunaira Shaikh, Hilary Block — Grade 10. Athletes who made big contributions to the junior blue team last year. Their athleticism and high volleyball IQs will make them fun athletes to watch this year. Look for them to be impact players for Bedford Road volleyball in years to come.
Previous results
“Middle of the pack in the Championship Division, having very competitive games against ED Feehan.”
Expectations for this season
“Continue to build our volleyball skills and grow as student-athletes. We want to get better every time we step on the court, and hope to compete for a Championship Division title.”
Bishop Mahoney Saints
Head coach: Tracy Hazen
Players to watch
- Marin Mackie — Grade 12, Middle. She dominated the position in high school last year and was a leader on and off the court. This year she is looking to continue to be a force in the middle and her leadership had her named captain of the team.
- Other Grade 12s: Soleil Oulovsky in the middle, Trinity Pollock at opposite, Hayley Winkler at left side and Julianna Begrand as libero will form a strong core looking to improve on their record from last year.
- Coach Hazen is expecting big things from two Grade 9s on the team: Tori Issel will be running the offence from the setter position and Kynly Thomson will be a force on the leftside.
Previous results
“4th.”
Expectations for this season
“We’re hoping to compete in the Premiere Division in October and qualify for Mustang Volley! Regardless of results, this terrific group of young and veteran athletes will be exciting to watch!”
Ecole Canadienne Francaise Patriotes
Head coach: Francis Denis
Players to watch
- Camille Woolsey — Grade 12, Middle. Her strong passing and powerful hits ensure that opposing teams need to keep their eye on her.
- Keanna Kielo — Grade 12, Setter. An all-around athlete, she never gives up on a play and sets her teammates up for success.
Previous results
“SHSAA Conference semifinals.”
Expectations for this season
“Les Patriotes visent se rendre au championnat provincial de la SHSAA. The Patriotes’ goal this year is to reach the SHSAA provincial championship.”
E.D. Feehan Trojans
Head coach: Ruby Stefan
Players to watch
- Senior (Grade 12) leaders of the team: Zyanne Oracion, Lovely Htoo, Taesha Ruiz, Monica Sika, Jemay Cervo, Sandyha Magar, Jhanna Tuerca and Izzy Bryksa.
- These athletes are leaders for Feehan on and off the court, and we are so excited to see them develop throughout this season.
Previous results
“Finished as the team who will have the most potential for growth this year.”
Expectations for this season
“Our senior girls volleyball team has been developing and putting in the work to have an exceptional season this year. We are looking forward to facing off against our rival Rusholme Road schools and competing hard this season.”
Evan Hardy Souls
Head coach: Breanne Fisher
Players to watch
“This is my first season with this team and these girls have already thoroughly impressed me in all aspects of the game. I can genuinely say that each of them shows great skill and their strength and mental toughness is inspiring.”
Previous results
“Lost in quarter-finals of Premiere Division.”
Expectations for this season
“The main goal of the season is to continue improving and build strength as a team. We’re looking forward to a fun and competitive year!”
Holy Cross Crusaders
Head coach: Robyn Flaman
Players to watch
- Emerson Lawless — Grade 12, Middle/ Outside. Strong, experienced and versatile.
- Olivia Orosz — Grade 10, Setter. National team player. High volleyball IQ and versatile.
- The whole team is fun to watch. A group of players who can play a variety of positions, keep balls in play, fast setting and strong serving.
Previous results
“City champions.”
Expectations for this season
“Would love a repeat of last year at the city championship.”
Marion Graham Falcons
Head coach: Luke Froese
Players to watch
- Sofia Kalyar (Libero), Milah McCarty (Outside Hitter), and Uma Berg (Outside Hitter). They all enter their senior year and will provide steady leadership to the team during this season.
Previous results
Championship Division silver medalists.
Expectations for this season
“The Falcons are focused on building skills and teamwork, with high expectations for growth and development this season. We have expectations to compete hard and challenge ourselves in every match, aiming to achieve both personal and team success throughout the season.”
Mount Royal Mustangs
Head coach: Shelby Fisher & Rebecca Stein
Previous results
Did not play.
Expectations for this season
“With getting the girls volleyball program back up and running at MRC, we have a very excited group of girls eager to practice, learn, and play as much volleyball as they possibly can! With an amazing group like this that is willing to go the extra mile and put in the work, we anticipate massive progress throughout the season!”
Saskatoon Christian School Royals
Head coach: Jamie Reimer
Players to watch
- Talia Seib — Grade 12, Setter. Her experience, skill and knowledge of the game makes her a setter to watch.
- Jerzie Kotelnikoff — Grade 12, Middle. Has the height and power to put the ball down. She is a force at net, leading her team in blocks last year.
Previous results
“Our team overcame adversity last year. We were a young team, and we faced some injuries causing late season line-up changes but the girls were able to pull together as a team to win gold at conferences. The girls continued to fight hard at regionals, falling just short of making it on to provincials.”
Expectations for this season
“This year we have the majority of our team returning. We look forward to continued improvement in skill, mental toughness and team bonding. We hope to make a provincial run this year.”
St. Joseph Guardians
Head coach: Taylor Annala
Players to watch
“Volleyball is a team sport and I hope to be watched and supported as the team we are, not as individuals. However, our team is incredibly coachable with some very driven and dedicated athletes and we are being led this year by our talented captains, Rayna Ayers and Quinn Smith. We are a bit of a younger squad than years past, with only three Grade 12s that include Rayna Ayers, Lauren Lockert, and Carys Short-Mooney. The rest of the team is composed mostly of Grade 11s, 10s, and one Grade 9! This competitive younger squad brings youthful energy and skill, which includes Morgan McCleary, Emery Knittig, Alyssa Peters, Sophie Kahl, Ashley Ife, Camdyn Schmidt, Quinn Smith, Colleen Rambacal, Tori Bushman, Anne Yasinski, and Maya Aicher.
Previous results
“2nd at city championships, 5th at provincials.”
Expectations for this season
“After a successful 2023 season of making it to the city championship and on to provincials, we hope to pursue that success once again with the help of our six returning athletes. As such a young team this year, we look forward to seeing their growth unfold throughout the long high school season. Above all, our primary emphasis this season will be on continuous improvement and the journey, trusting that the results will take care of themselves!”
Tommy Douglas Tigers
Head coach: Tessley Korchinski
Players to watch
- Jalyn Rambally— Grade 12, Libero. The only returning player this season. She is the core of the defence, doesn’t let the ball hit the ground and will be a leader for a young team throughout the season.
- Sofia Laskowski— Grade 11, Setter. Had a great year in junior volleyball last year at Tommy Douglas. She has such a great work ethic and will be a valuable addition to the offence this year.
- Alexis Kreese— Grade 11, Middle/Setter. Also had an awesome season of junior volleyball last year at Tommy Douglas. Alexis’ athleticism and strong presence on the court will be something to watch for this season.
Previous results
“The team finished 3rd at the city championships last year and qualified for the provincial championships for the first time in our school’s history!”
Expectations for this season
“After an awesome season last year, we are excited to see how we can compete this year!”
Walter Murray Marauders
Head coach: Kassidy and Colin Fraser
Players to watch
“We have a couple of returning senior leaders and lots of new Grade 9 and 10 players who will be seeing the floor lots.”
Previous results
“Lost in the third place game.”
Expectations for this season
“We expect to have another competitive year with lots of growth and improvement of our younger players throughout the season. Our strength will come from the athleticism and grittiness of many multi-sport athletes.”
