2 weeks Ago By Mike Sawatzky
WINNIPEG — The Vincent Massey Vikings may have dug themselves out of bigger holes this season but none more monumental than Wednesday’s comeback at Investors Group Athletic Centre. Read this article for free: Already have an account? As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support.
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Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! WINNIPEG — The Vincent Massey Vikings may have dug themselves out of bigger holes this season but none more monumental than Wednesday’s comeback at Investors Group Athletic Centre. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? WINNIPEG — The Vincent Massey Vikings may have dug themselves out of bigger holes this season but none more monumental than Wednesday’s comeback at Investors Group Athletic Centre. The No.
1-seeded Brandon squad survived four match points in a tension-filled fourth set en route to a riveting 3-2 (23-25, 25-20, 21-25, 30-28, 15-11) victory over the fourth-seeded Steinbach Sabres in provincial AAAA varsity girls volleyball semifinal action. Massey capitalized on the attacking clout of all-star left side Jersey Hansen-Young, who supplied 32 kills and five service aces, and Grade 10 sensation Hannah McGregor, a six-foot left side, who chipped in with 20 kills and one ace. Zoe Price added six kills and an ace for the winners.
“It was a lot of pressure but everybody really just stayed focused and knew what they had to do,” said Hansen-Young, recently voted the top varsity girls player in the province in the top 10 coaches’ poll. “Everybody was playing the game like it was a normal game, not like it was match point. I feel like we were even more on our toes than we had been, just anticipating what was going to happen.
” The Vikings will face the winner of the semifinal between Jeanne-Sauve and Lord Selkirk — who were still in progress at press time — in Monday’s final at IGAC. Game time is 6 p.m.
Massey head coach Kelly DeRoo’s club has lost only once to Manitoba opposition on their way to a 49-2 record. The Vikings are chasing the first AAAA varsity girls provincial title in school history. “It was pretty stressful watching that from the bench,” said DeRoo of the fourth set.
“But you can’t do that much about it. You just have to trust that your athletes are going to make the right decisions and work hard. I think the girls did a really good job with their mentality going through those tough times.
” Surviving a stressful situation should help the Vikings in the long run. “We’ve been in a few for sure but we haven’t had a tough match like that in many weeks,” said DeRoo. “It’s good for us to get those games.
Our (quarter-final) game with FRC was closer than we would’ve like but I’m very happy we pulled that off in the fourth (set).” McGregor’s cool performance was instrumental in the victory. She brought Massey back in the match after a slow start.
“We tend to be a little shaky and nervous in the first set,” said McGregor. “It was mostly nerves and then we got out of it and just performed well.” DeRoo was pleased with McGregor’s clutch play: “As a young player I think she really did rise to the occasion tonight.
She played pretty smart, made good choices and hit the ball hard when she needed to.” The Sabres, who won the 2023 title after coming into the provincial tournament as the third seed, came agonizingly close to returning to the title game. “That’s how it goes,” said Steinbach head coach Abby Toews.
“I’m incredibly proud of our girls and how they showed up for this game. They were a little nervous coming into it because their last match against Massey (in the St. Vital) did not go well at all.
It was a beating. So the fact we came out and played the way we did tonight, I think they can hold their heads up high because Massey’s a good team.” Jubilee Steppan led the Sabres with 18 kills and an ace while Kiersten Reimer added 13 kills and four aces.
Middle Callie Andries had eight kills. » Winnipeg Free Press Advertisement Advertisement.
