Moore, Spartans prepare for crunch time

A long string of success for the Neelin Spartans varsity boys comes down to one more month of work.

The three-time AAA provincial volleyball champions are looking for one more banner before a senior corps that has done nothing but win when it matters most moves on.

They’re ranked first in AAA and have one more weekend to prove they belong there before provincial qualifiers. This one is on home court as they host the 96-team Spartan Dig on Friday and Saturday.

Senior setter Aiden Moore, who was named MVP of last year’s provincial championship and the JV one in 2024, feels his team is on the right track to make another title run on Dec. 3-5.

“We usually do a really good job of peaking at that time. It’s just putting in that work, putting in the extra time in practice, the extra reps and these tournaments like the Dig; it’s really important. We have a good chance to do well,” Moore said.

“If we can come together as a team, we can prove that we are the top (AAA) team in Manitoba. This gives us a great opportunity to show that.”

While the five-foot-10 Moore has played the last three seasons with Griffin Hargreaves, the Grade 11 setter has pushed him more than ever this season.

Hargreaves, who has sprouted to six-foot-four, has been coach Jake Thomson’s go-to guy at times this year.

Moore spent some time as a serving and defensive sub in games while setting in practice.

“Griff’s been making me work harder. That’s what teammates should be doing. It’s been good,” Moore said. “We’ve been able to do six-on-six. It’s nice to have another setter to be able to do it and really good to have him, great kid.”

Unfortunately, Hargreaves suffered an ankle injury at the Selkirk tournament two weeks ago, when the Spartans reached the semifinals but lost to the Glenlawn Lions, who are ranked seventh in AAAA.

So Moore is back to running the offence, and it was clicking on Tuesday evening as the Spartans swept the Crocus Plainsmen 3-0 (25-20, 25-11, 25-14) in the city semifinal.

He connected with Lucas Gamache for a match-high 14 kills, Case Ashcroft for nine and middle blockers Aiden Garbutt and Clark Goran for a combined 10.

“I’ve been ready. I’ve always been told to be ready and now my name has been called,” Moore said.

“First set was a little sloppy, but we brought it back in the second two and cleaned up our errors.”

The Spartans are playing at home on Friday, against Frontier at 9 a.m., Neepawa at 11 a.m., and St. Maurice at 1 p.m.

There are 12 pools of four in both the boys’ and girls’ events, with each pool playing from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or 3:30 to 9:30 p.m.

The top team in each pool, along with second place in four of the 12, advances to the championship bracket.

The boys’ playoffs run at Vincent Massey and Neelin on Saturday, with the final at Neelin at 6 p.m.

On the girls’ side, Neelin is at the Healthy Living Centre for Friday’s pool play, against John Taylor at 9 a.m., Wawanesa at 11 and Neepawa at 1 p.m.

Their playoffs are at BU’s Henry Champ Gymnasium, with the final also at 6 p.m.

» tfriesen@brandonsun.com