Neelin reaches BU tourney final
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/09/2022 (1167 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The Neelin Spartans got a great preview of their path to varsity boys volleyball provincials on Saturday.
It’s not easy. Winkler’s Garden Valley Zodiacs swept the Spartans 2-0 (25-16, 25-22) in the final of Brandon University’s varsity boys tournament at the Healthy Living Centre. Since Garden Valley dropped to AAA from AAAA, it meets Neelin in an interzone qualifier in November.
They split 26-24 sets in the round robin, which saw Neelin finish atop Pool A with an 8-2 record in sets over five matches.
“It’s super nice knowing we’re in the running with them and we’re just going to get better, just like them,” said Neelin setter Xander Eilers, a tournament all-star. “But overall, we’re going to get better and we’re going to beat them by the end of the year.”
Neelin escaped a three-setter over Elton in the round one 16, then swept Boissevain and Crocus Plains to reach the final. Garden Valley dropped Dauphin and MacGregor in straight sets then edged Russell’s Major Pratt 2-1 on the other half of the draw.
Eilers battled through a patellar subluxation — when the kneecap briefly dislocates and usually pops back in — suffered on Friday. He’s lost count of how many times it’s happened but says it’s roughly every few months.
“I just ice it and not go on it when I’m not playing any sports, try and refrain from using it as much,” Eilers said. “I don’t really think about it. If it happens, it happens and I move on. I’ve gotten over that point.”
It meant he couldn’t jump much, so the Spartans got creative with substitutions and had Josh Gamache split setting duties in a modified 6-2 lineup. (All six players attack while two also set when in the back row.)
Eilers liked the team’s start to the season and already has a few trustworthy options offensively. All-star Max Winters is a clear presence at six-foot-five in the middle and Grade 11 outsides Nathaniel Berube and Rhodes Keller have stepped up to provide a bunch of options.
“The biggest thing is we get to every ball and we don’t make a lot of mistakes on the passing end,” Eilers said. “But our serving can really improve and our blocking against a team like this that jumps really high can definitely improve a lot.”
Neelin suffered an early setback as Justin Braid broke his hand but is set to undergo surgery this week and hopefully return before provincials, which take place in Steinbach on Dec. 1-3.
Major Pratt beat Crocus 2-1 in the third-place match. Vincent Massey, which lost to Crocus in the round of 16, cruised through the consolation side and beat Dauphin for ninth place.
» tfriesen@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @thomasmfriesen