Donalda School’s boys volleyball team shone at a recent CARA junior high tournament in Stettler, finishing first against nine other area schools.
The team went undefeated throughout the tournament on Saturday, Nov. 1, besting Coronation in the final to take the title. They will compete in the CWAJHAA 1J division finals in Coronation on Nov. 22.
“We’re a very small team,” said coach Amy Smith, adding that the eight-man team makes up for its numbers with solid serving, powerful hitting and skilled blocking. “Our attack is strong hits,” Smith says.
It has been a successful season for the team, which also finished first at a junior high tournament held at Red Deer’s Hunting Hills High School.
Smith said the team’s strengths were evident throughout the CARA tournament. The team features players from grades 6 through 9.
Stettler Middle School hosted the Saturday tournament, which also featured teams from Brownfield, Erskine, Coronation, Castor’s Gus Wetter and Theresetta, Stettler’s Christ-King, Big Valley and Halkirk’s Mother Teresa.
In the boys’ playoffs, Coronation finished in second, while Brownfield took third and Stettler Middle School claimed fourth.
In the girls’ playoffs, Coronation defeated Erskine in the final to take first place. Donalda came in third and Gus Wetter took fourth.
Donalda will also compete in the CWAJHAA girls 1J division finals, which will be hosted at Stettler’s William E. Hay Composite High School on Nov. 15.