Going for gold

Cape Breton volleyball teams to participate in Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation provincials

Eight Cape Breton volleyball teams will look to take home provincial titles in their respective divisions this weekend.

The Riverview Royals girls’ team will participate in the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation Division 1 tournament in Bridgewater, while Richmond Academy and Strait Area Education Recreation Centre will play in the Division 2 girls event in Brookfield.

In other girls tournament action in Cookville, École NDA of Cheticamp and Inverness Education Centre-Academy will play for the Division 3 title.

Among the five provincial events being played across the province, one will be held in Cape Breton.

Cape Breton Highlands Education Centre-Academy will host the Division 2 boys’ tournament in Margaree Harbour.

Joining Cape Breton Highlands in the tournament are fellow island representatives Dalbrae Academy and École NDA. Pomquet, Annapolis West Education Centre, Rive-Sud, Middleton High School and South Colchester will also attend.

Riverview enters the Division 1 tournament holding a provincewide 28-7 record, with four of the club’s losses coming to Cobequid Educational Centre (CEC) of Truro and Citadel High School of Halifax.

“We’ve had a very strong season this year and we’ve been very competitive,” said Royals coach James MacLellan. “The

supporting cast is very strong — we have 13 players on the team and they can all play, and they vary from Grade 9 to Grade 12.”

Despite not having a league to play in, the Royals, who captured the Highland region title earlier this month, have participated in six tournaments this year, winning the Niki King Memorial in Port Hawkesbury as well as a tournament hosted by the Sydney Academy Wildcats.

“The teams up the line are bigger and strong, but we’ve beaten everyone but those two

teams (CEC and Citadel) at this point,” said MacLellan.

Riverview will open the tournament, hosted by Park View Education Centre, on Friday at 1 p.m. against Dartmouth, followed

by matches against Sir. John A Macdonald at 4 p.m., and CEC at 7 p.m.

“Our first match against Dartmouth will be key,” said MacLellan. “They’re a big, strong and

blocking team. We’ve split with them this year, so we’re going to be in tough.”

The tournament semifinals are set for Saturday at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., while the bronze medal game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. The championship match is slated for 4 p.m.

Full Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation volleyball provincial tournament schedules can be found on page B4.

PHOTO SUBMITTED/JAMES MACLELLAN The Riverview Royals girls volleyball team will participate in the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation Division 1 provincials this weekend in Bridgewater. From left, front row, Ainsley Pelley, Ireland Harris, Kara MacKenzie, Fiona MacLellan, Gabby Sampson, Madeleine LeVert and Kate Farrell. From left, back row, Brianna Brewer (coach), Rheanne MacLeod, Brie MacPhee, MacKenzie Skinner, Emily Phillipo, Guilia Palermo, Kolby Bussey and James MacLellan (coach).