With volleyball playoffs just over a week away, the North Battleford Comprehensive High School senior boys' team appears to be peaking at the right time.
The Vikings hosted their annual senior boys' tournament Friday and Saturday and finished on top of the standings after the round robin.
The Vikings beat John Paul II in two sets, Saskatoon Centennial in three sets, BJM in two sets, Paradise Hill in two sets and Nipawin in three sets. They finished with a battle for first place against Melfort, which they won and held first place heading into the playoff round.
NBCHS went up against John Paul II and beat them in straight sets moving on to the gold medal match.
Centennial edged Melfort in the other semi final to advance to play the Vikings.
In round robin play, the Vikings won 25-20, 20-25 and 15-7 over Centennial, so they understood they were in for a good match, but in the final they needed just two sets to put Centennial away.
John Paul II lost to Melfort in straight sets in the round robin and got their revenge in the bronze medal match earning the three-set win.
The gold medal is the first for the NBCHS team this season and coach Bruce Freisen said he has a good young group of players who have improved since the start of the season.
The Vikings have one gold and two bronze medals and were seeded in the top tier in every tournament but one this season.
The Vikings will wrap up the tournament portion of the season this weekend, as they head across the city to John Paul II for their annual tournament. After this weekend it is do or die, as the teams will be in Prince Albert Carlton for regionals. Four teams will advance to provincials, with Melfort hosting and already holding one of those provincial berths.
Freisen said his team would be considered an underdog heading into regionals, but they have played well against the other 5A teams and do have a chance to advance if they play well at regionals.
Joining NBCHS at regionals Nov. 12 and 13 will be John Paul II, P.A. Carlton, P.A. St Mary, Melfort and Meadow Lake.
The NBCHS and John Paul II senior girls' volleyball teams will also be at regionals Nov. 12 and 13.
