Defending champ Spartans enter as underdogs

The Neelin Spartans don’t have the target most defending champions would have on their backs this week.

They head to AAA junior varsity boys’ volleyball provincials in Neepawa on Thursday ranked outside the top 10, and are in the bottom of the three four-team power pools.

Head coach Levi Kanski feels the group is ready to punch above its weight.

“Now, more than ever, I believe we’re definitely a top-five team, for the most part. We’re very well put together defensively, our attacking and our blocking has been set super well,” Kanski said.

“We just didn’t find it at the start of the year when we played a couple of those AAA teams.”

The Spartans started the season slow, finishing sixth at the Brandon University JV tournament, fourth in Neepawa, and fourth at the Viking Classic.

They battled some of the top AAA varsity teams at the Spartan Dig, falling down to the C-side and winning just one match.

In city league play, they finished in second place at 1-3 but lost a four-set semifinal to the Crocus Plainsmen on Oct. 29.

Neelin regrouped and swept R.D. Parker on Saturday in an interzone match to secure its spot at provincials.

Captain Connor O’Greysik said his young group has improved a ton, highlighting a few teammates who made big strides.

“Derin (Ntelioglou) definitely did, same with Mathias (McKenzie), same with Satchul (Arndt),” O’Greysik said. “Satchul, especially with his hitting, he’s gotten a lot better, Derin with his passing and defensively, and Mathias with his hitting and blocking.”

O’Greysik, a six-foot-one outside hitter, and setter Sebastien Shakotko have been the keys for the Spartans. Both tried out for the varsity team and have practised with them throughout the year.

“I knew if I made varsity, I wouldn’t be playing a bunch. If I was JV, I’d be playing all the time,” O’Greysik said, adding those reps with the older group have helped a ton, especially with his defence.

O’Greysik’s attacking game is solid. While he can blast away with the best of them, he hits smart and looks to score efficiently. “When he wants to fix something, it gets fixed right away,” Kanski said. “He won’t show his weakness on the court.

“He’s striving every day to become a better version of himself. He’s not OK with where he is now; he believes there’s another step, another gear he can put himself into right now.”

The Spartans play the John Taylor Pipers on Thursday at 11 a.m., the Elmwood Giants at 1 p.m., and the host Neepawa Tigers at 4:30 p.m.

They will play one of the Pool B teams in the first round of the playoffs early on Friday, then take on a Pool A squad later that day if they win.

The semifinals are Saturday morning, with the final set for 3:30 p.m.

See Thursday’s paper for a preview on the Neelin girls, who swept the College Beliveau Barracudas in McGregor in their wildcard game to secure a spot.

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