The F.H. Collins Warriors competed in the M.E. Lazerte Voyageur Volleyball Classic held in Edmonton Alberta, on Oct. 12-14, showcasing their skills and determination. This 16-team AAA tournament presented tough competition.

Upon arrival, the Warriors attended an ASPIRE volleyball clinic, coached by Lorne Suwala.

In the opening game, the senior boys faced a challenging match against M.E. Lazerte (a grade 10-12 school of 3000 students) in front of a home crowd, ultimately losing 25-21, and 27-25. Stellar passing by Liam Milford, and epic blocking by Zephyr Bingham and Cody Adams had the game within reach. Despite this setback, the boys showed resilience and secured a victory against Rundle with a 15-13 win in the third set.

The boys placed third in pool play, and faced Millwoods Christian in an elimination game. Although they did not advance, their gameplay advanced throughout the tournament. Maze Clemente was recruited to set for the team as Chris McCarron, Cy McDowell and Kaleb Parry were sorely missed. Maze’s agile setting skills, and Jerry Wu’s lightning-fast spikes left opponents struggling to keep up.

Brendan Nash earned Player of the Game for his aggressive plays at the net and some powerful spikes at key moments. Lian Clemente, a leader within the team, showcased exceptional wrist snap and game IQ. Lian also manages team equipment, and coaches the grade 8 Warriors often with the help of Jerry Wu.

These achievements serve as inspirations for the F.H. Warriors.

The F.H. Collins senior girls, under the guidance of Taylor Philips and Marie-Pier Meloche, demonstrated their capabilities in the tournament. Placing second in pool play, they secured victories against M.E. Lazerte and Christ the King, with their only loss coming at the hands of Ecole McTavish. Although they fell short in the elimination game against Holy Trinity, the team remains confident and eager for a rematch. Standout performances were seen from Camille Belanger, who delivered powerful serves, Lexi Zaidan, who executed impressive hits, and Eleanor Setterington, who displayed exceptional passing skills.

Both teams will now focus on rest and coursework as they prepare for the DIVT (Dawson Invitational Volleyball Tournament), where they will face new challenges and put their skills to the test.

Special thanks to Pat McInroy and the P & M Recycling team and Lotteries Yukon. Your support helps make these positive experiences possible!

– Submitted by Ronald Service.