Crusaders oust Roys in straight sets

Few have been able to contain the St. Paul’s Crusaders’ offence this year, and that trend continued Thursday night.

The No. 1 Crusaders’ high-powered attack repeatedly flexed its muscles as they overwhelmed No. 4 Gabrielle-Roy Les Roys en route to a 3-0 (25-16; 25-13; 27-25) triumph in the first match of the AAAA varsity boys volleyball provincial semifinals at Investors Group Athletic Centre.

St. Paul’s will play the Dakota Lancers for the provincial championship Monday, back at IGAC (8 p.m.).

“Our game plan in this matchup was to swing,” said Crusaders middle Cy Hoorne, who was second on the team with eight kills. “I know I didn’t do much swinging, but our goal was to put the ball to the ground as quick as possible, because if they get a dig, their whole momentum goes up. That’s really it — put the ball to the floor and swing.”

The Crusaders return to the title match for the second year in a row and third time in the last four years, in search of their first championship since 2015.

They feel this year’s story will have a different ending.

“Everyone’s buying in. Everyone wants to win,” said Hoorne, who also had three aces and a block. “So I feel like if we all want to win, we’ll all try, and we’ll bust our butts, and then we’ll be fine.”

Head coach Dustin Spiring said his program’s experience will continue to play a major role in the championship.

“We have a lot of Grade 12s — a lot of good Grade 12s — in important positions, too,” he said. “And so I think they’re more ready for the task. And then our young guys, I mean, our Grade 10, Oluwafisayomi Sofoluwe was absolutely fantastic today. Our young guys, Ethan McNaught stepped up, too. I think we’re just more experienced and more prepared.”

St. Paul’s star outside hitter Liam Mancer, who was voted the top player in the province by a panel of coaches, was outstanding with a match-high 18 kills, including eight in the deciding set.

Nathan Brzak supplied 10 kills, while McNaught helped with six kills, a block and an ace.

“Guys like Cy and Oluwafisayomi will open up Liam, and allow him to be who he is and have the success he had tonight. James (Zang) did an awesome job moving the ball around, our passers passed very well, and then, yeah, Liam’s obviously very skilled, very big, strong, athletic guy,” said Spiring. “I think if we can set all of our hitters at all points, we’re gonna be a dangerous offence.”

St. Paul’s victory didn’t come without some adversity.

After having no answer for the Crusaders’ heavy hitters in the first two sets, Gabrielle-Roy had their opponents on the ropes in the third set, holding multiple leads late in the frame, including set point at 25-24.

Earlier in the frame, the Crusaders were dealt with unfavourable calls on three consecutive points. Brzak, who pleaded to officials on his coach’s behalf, was dealt a yellow card, as the Gabrielle-Roy crowd grew louder and the squad had legitimate life for the first time all match.

Spiring rallied the troops during a timeout.

“Just to reset and take a deep breath. We can side out against any team, and then we’re a good serving team, and if we execute our blocking defence, then we’re able to beat any team and stop them for points in a row,” Spiring told his team.

“It was definitely a good mental bounce back for sure.”

Logan Barnabé, voted the No. 2 player in the province, logged 10 kills and one ace for Les Roys, while Marek Goller supplied four kills. Kiel LaRochelle, Colin Vermette and Jamie Barnabé each had three kills apiece.

“We’ve had one goal in mind all year, and it’s been a provincial championship,” said Spiring. “So we’re counting down the sets here, and we’re excited to be back. I think the Grade 12s this year, who were in Grade 11 last year and played in it, know the atmosphere and know the pressure, and they wanted it all year long. We’re really, really thrilled.”

Meanwhile, the Dakota Lancers head to the provincial championship for the first time since 2023, in search of their first title since 2019 after earning a hard-fought 3-0 (26-24; 25-21; 25-20) victory over the Steinbach Regional Sabres in the second semifinal.

The Sabres had been a thorn in the side of the Lancers, but not on this night.

Dakota’s potent attack was led by a pair of young Grade 11 stars in Daniel Rom and Jordan Bagnas, who each had 13 kills.

Another Grade 11 talent, Quade Wortley, contributed four kills and a pair of aces.

For the Sabres, Mason Bergen led the offence with nine kills, while Liam Paton supplied eight kills and an ace.

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