Cyclones Come From Behind To Capture City Title

If the first two sets were any indication of how the game was going to end the Briercrest Christian Academy Cougars would be the 2026 Moose Jaw city league senior boys volleyball champions.

The Cougars used power and an almost impregnable wall at the net to easily hem in the Central Cyclones.

But in the third set the pendulum swung the other way with the Cyclones grabbing the final three sets to hoist the city trophy.

A few out of bounds spikes from the Cougars in the fourth set led to points for the Cyclones and a fifth and deciding set.

The set scores were (in Central’s favour) 25 - 21, 25 - 19, 23 - 25, 23 - 25 and 13 -15.

Central Cyclones head coach Ethan Mancarrow called the game a near cardiac arrest.

“They love to give me a heart attack. We’ve played this way all year. It’s been a lot of ups and downs but I’ve known these boys for three or four years and they never cease to amaze me,” Mancarrow said.

The game was one where at times in the first two sets the Cyclones seemed dejected unable to stand up against the Cougars precision power.

Asked if he thought it was over for the Cyclones after the wall coming up and the power from Cougars’ spikes he said he wasn’t.

“Briercrest is a fantastic team. They’re awesome. We’ve played against them multiple times, they’re going to push us for a provincial championship this year but my guys know what they’re doing. They know what they’re doing. They settled down. They found their groove and we started coming out and playing aggressive. Just the way we were taught.”

Mancarrow said the Cyclones key to success was their serving pressure.

“We were able to keep (Briercrest player) Rylan Yotes from swinging all of the time. It really helped us slow the game down. Once we slowed it down we were able to get our offence going.”

The Cyclones worked at the game one point at a time.

“We preached all year it’s runs of threes. If you can play the game at runs of threes you’ve got a high chance of winning,” he said.

The Cyclones season is not over as they make their provincial playoffs run. A run that in all likelihood will see them meet the Cougars again in the provincial 4A playdowns.

“I love these boys. They’re fantastic. I’ll hopefully go to a provincial title with them.”

Despite the loss Briercrest Christian Academy Cougars head coach Grant Poettcker was still upbeat.

“It was a really hard fought battle. We came out firing on all cylinders and they took it back at the end. But that’s sports…I thought we would have them. We came out with a lead midway through but just didn’t finish,” Poettcker said.

“I think we played really, really hard. There are always some things you can improve. But in terms of the effort everybody turned out. I was really proud of them.”

Asked about the key fourth set and errant spikes that gave the Cyclones points at a key time he said “that’s volleyball.”

“There were a bunch of plays that could have gone either way. They’ve got a really strong attack and when we’re firing on all cylinders so do we. But the matchups didn’t go our way. The rallies didn’t end the way we wanted them to.”

With the city league now over the Cougars are off to the 4A provincial playdowns. Although 3A in student body size the Cougars dominance in last season’s provincial run saw them bumped up to 4A this year.

“So we’re punching above our weight.”

Due to its student body size Central Collegiate is a 4A school.

“We’re likely to see them (Central Cillegiate) if we do things right. We’ll play them at regionals and if we advance to provincials we’ll probably play them there.”

BIGGEST SAVE OF THE GAME

The biggest “unsung” save of the senior boys’ city championship came before the first whistle.

After the player and coach introductions it was discovered there was nobody to sing the national anthem.

Seeing the game announcer not knowing what to do Briercrest Christian Academy Cougars head coach Grant Poettcker calmly walked over 15 feet and took to the mike.

Poettcker gave a rendition of Oh Canada that had large numbers of the crowd singing along. He received a strong ovation for his efforts.

He did not see singing the anthem on such short notice as a big deal but just something he does every Sunday in church.

“I grew up singing. We sing every Sunday in church so I’m pretty comfortable with it.”