Rebels Sweep Cyclones In Three Sets

The Rouleau Rebels came to Moose Jaw with a game plan. To defeat the Central Cyclones in three straight sets.

For the Rebels a sweep of sets would show last year’s 1A provincial champion - despite major roster changes due to graduation - still had a lot of talent.

For some Rebels players winning in three straight sets would allow them to get to hockey practice on time.

Unfortunately for the Cyclones the Rebels succeeded going on to win 25 - 21, 25 - 16 and 25 - 15.

It just wasn’t their night Cyclones head coach Shane Morrow said.

“It’s not our best effort. It’s the same with our league results as of late. It’s not our best game,” Morrow said.

Despite struggling as of late in Moose Jaw city league play he said the Cyclones have faired much better in tournament play.

“It’s been up and down. We’ve had some poor results in league but we’ve had some pretty good results in tournaments…overall tournament wise we’ve been over 500 in every tournament so far,” he said.

Asked about whether or not the Cyclones still had a lot of gas in the tank he said “I certainly hope so.”

There’s a test for the Cyclones this weekend as they have a tournament including the Cornerstone Christian School Falcons up at Golden Ticket. The Falcons are a strong team presently in second place in the city league.

“We follow it up with regionals in about three weeks so hopefully our best is yet to come.”

Morris said he wasn’t surprised about how good of a team Rouleau was despite being a much smaller school.

“No they are the defending 1A champions. There is no poor team in this league we know that going into it every night. Every night is going to be a battle whether you’re playing a 1A or a 5A school. You’ve got to bring your best every night.”

Rouleau Rebels head coach Michelle Bean said she was happy with how her team played on Tuesday evening.

“My team coach out ready to play. They did really well. They executed everything they were asked to do and came out successful,” Bean said.

She said the Rebels had a loose game plan that included the team just going out and playing their best.

“We came out here to play our best. The last time we played them we won the first two sets and then lost two (sets) so I kept reminding them the game plan so we could win in three straight.”

The Rebels are having a great season.

“Our season has been incredible so far. We’ve been in all tournaments with 5A teams and we have been winning quite a bit,” Bean said.

“We’ve had an incredible season and we are looking forward to the next three weeks as we head into playoffs here.”

Bean said the Rebels are looking forward to another provincial playoff run despite only having three returnees from last season.

The Rebels graduated six players from last year’s provincial champion. They have five new players on the roster this season.

Despite being known as the fictional Dog River and home of the tv series Corner Gas Bean attributes the Rebels success because Rouleau is a “volleyball town.”

“Rouleau is a big volleyball town and a lot of these players play club in the off season so they play almost all year round. So when school season starts they’re ready to roll.”