The club volleyball season is well underway in the province and the 15-U Predators Volleyball Club, based out of the Grandview School, has put together some excellent performances.
In their first tournament in Regina, the Predators went up and stuck with some of the best teams in Saskatchewan and while the team finished in fourth, it was certainly a good start to the season. The team proved they could stick with the best of the best.
The team was back in action at a Bandits tournament shortly after and finished on the podium with a bronze medal. The club also played an exhibition game against the Parkland Vipers and beat them.
Dave Sigvaldason is the team's head coach.
"We've been alright this year. We have some pretty good results," said Sigvaldason. "Finishing fourth out of 16 teams was a good weekend for us. At the Bandits tournament, we lost a tough semi-final but bounced back to win the bronze, so it was great to see the girls show resilience."
The Predators then went to Brandon for the highly competitive Westman Tournament, featuring some of the best teams in the province—and they didn’t just show up; they dominated. Outlasting a deep 24-team field, the Predators captured their first championship of the season emphatically.
In round-robin action, they stormed past WinMan Rage, Russell, and BVC Darcy, securing the top spot in their pool. With momentum on their side, they powered through the playoffs, taking down the Yorkton Venom in the quarterfinals before outlasting the Wild in a hard-fought semifinal battle.
The championship match saw the Predators face off against the Spurs, but there was no stopping them now. They delivered a commanding straight-set victory, 25-17, 25-17, to hoist the championship trophy and cement their place among the province’s elite.
"That was really good for our group. I don't want to say that we were doubting the ability to win that big game but at this age, you have to be careful to not get into a rut with mind games," continued Sigvaldason. "Winning the tournament was a big thing for the girls' confidence. They know they can get the job done."
With a long season still ahead and a big weekend tournament at Dakota Collegiate on the horizon, Dave is fired up for what’s to come. The team’s momentum is building, and he knows the best is yet to come.
"We've added a few pieces and we have quite a bit of size this year," said Sigvaldason. "I believe that we work harder than other teams. We're tenacious, really gritty, and that's something that goes a long way in our game. That's what separates us from some other teams, we're a gritty, grind-it-out type of group."
This weekend, the team's tournament will feature many of the top teams in the province at the 15-U level. With a bronze medal and gold medal already under their belt, Dave's looking forward to leading this special group onto the court for their fourth event of the season.
"We have a group of gamers that want to get better, they want to be pushed to the limit," ended Sigvaldason.
The team's coaching staff also includes Sandy Hafenbrak and Tori Dykun. The team's roster features Meadow Vigini, Tiana Sanko, Callie Sobering, Dani Laliberte, Paige Hanke, Camryn Fletcher, Connelly McDonald, Avery Fyk, Taedyn Solski, and Reese Loring.
