They're a young team, but they gave a good showing at the Provincial championship.
The senior girls' volleyball team at Bruno School hosted the 2010 Senior Girls 2A Volleyball Provincials November 19-20. The 12-team tournament saw games played in Bruno and Wakaw, with the finals in Bruno.
Teams from Wakaw, Manor, St. Walburg, Wolseley, Makwa Sahgaiehcan, Bruno, Allan, Naicam, Kahkewistahaw, Cudworth, Hepburn, and Neilburg competed at the tournament. The teams were split into four pools of three for the first day of play.
Bruno took to the court for the first game of the tournament, playing the Wolseley Warriors. The Warriors took control of the game early and led throughout, thanks to some strong serving and spikes. Wolseley won the game 25-15.
In the second game, Bruno came out strong, taking an early 8-3 lead and forcing the Warriors to regroup. Wolseley fought back, tying the game at 16 and going on to claim a 25-17 victory.
Bruno's second game was later that night against the Makwa Sahgaiehcan Falcons. The Falcons defeated Bruno in two games with scores of 25-15 and 25-19.
Pool A matches saw Wakaw defeat St. Walburg and Manor, while Manor defeated St. Walburg.
Wolseley won both their matches in Pool B, beating Bruno and Makwa Sahgaiehcan. Makwa defeated Bruno in the other pool game.
Pool C matches saw Allan win both their games, while Naicam defeated Kahkewistahaw.
Cudworth won both their matches in Pool D, while Hepburn defeated Neilburg in the other match.
The qualification round of playoffs saw Naicam defeat Kahkewistahaw two games to one, while Bruno beat Manor in three games with scores of 15-25, 25-14, and 25-12.
Hepburn beat St. Walburg in two games and Makwa Sahgaiehcan defeated Neilburg in three games in the other qualification games.
The quarter-finals saw Wakaw beat Naicam 25-12 and 25-15, while Wolseley defeated Bruno 25-14 and 25-21.
Hepburn beat Allan in three games, while Cudworth defeated Makwa in two games in the other two quarter-final games.
In the semifinals, Wakaw defeated Hepburn 25-7 and 25-15 to advance to the gold medal match.
Cudworth beat Wolseley 25-19, 16-25, and 25-20 to advance to the gold medal match.
Wolseley defeated Hepburn in two games to win the bronze medal match.
Wakaw beat Cudworth 25-14 and 25-10 to win the gold medal, while Cudworth took home the silver.
Bruno coach Ryan Bender was pleased overall with the way his team played.
"We didn't play too well on Friday, but on Saturday we played well," he said. "Being a young team, I think nerves got to us on Friday."
Bruno lost four starters from last year and has no Grade 12 players on the team this year, Bender explained.
The team won their first playoff game, but lost in the quarter-finals, leaving them in a tie for fifth place basically, he noted.
Bender said strong play at the net from Jessica Weiman and Allison Thoms, along with the play of setter Brooklyn Carberry, were the team's strong points during the game.
Their main weakness was their age and their nerves, he added.
Bender said the crowd noise was overwhelming, especially when the gym at Bruno School was packed for the Saturday playoffs.
