The following is being distributed at the request of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador:

This past weekend proved to be a very exciting weekend for volleyball fans as the Provincial Senior Championships were held in Gander. Fifty-two teams travelled to this tournament to compete for the championship in their respective divisions. Eleven gyms in Gander and the Gander Bay loop area were used to put this tournament off. Overall this annual tournament was once again a huge success.

The mens and womens A divisions were especially competitive as the top three teams in each division earned the right to attend the Eastern Canadian Championships to be held in St. John's May 2-4, 1997.

The first semifinal in the Mens A Championship featured Benders who finished 1st in division A after the round robin with an 8-4 record and Pasadena who finished second in division B with a record of 8-4. Benders won by cores of 15-4 and 15-9. The other semifinal saw the Guards (9-3) meet the Canada Games team (8-4). The Guards prevailed by scores of 15-5 and 15-12 to advance to the final. The Bronze medal match saw Pasadena take on Canada Games. This was a close match with Canada Games winning 17-15 and 15-12. The gold medal match featured the defending champions Guards against a very strong Benders team. Benders took the first game 15-10 but the Guards rallied to win the next two 15-7 and 15-10 to claim their 4th championship in a row.

All stars in the Mens A Championship went to Deon Goulding (Guards), Teddy Baker (Benders), Adam Fowler (Benders), Ron Birmingham (Pasadena), Clay Reimer (ONCA), and Richard Butt (Canada Games). The MVP award went to Paul Melanson of the Guards.

The semifinals in Womens A championship was Canada Games (4- 0) take on Jungle Jim's (8-4) Canada Games won 16-14, 13-15, and 15-11. The other semifinal put Benders (11-2) against Turkey Joe's (3-1) with Benders winning 15-8, 15-6. Turkey Joe's and Jungle Jims met in the Bronze medal match with Turkey Joe's winning 15-0 and 15-9. The final match was between Benders and defending champions Canada Games. It was a hard fought match with Canada Games winning the first game 15-10. Benders winning the next 15-10, and Canada Games coming back to win the third game 15-13 to claim their second straight championship.

All-star awards went to Robin Upshall (Canada Games), Carla Edwards (Benders), Karen Murphy (Benders), Kathy Noseworthy (Turkey Joe's), Sharon King (Jungle Jim's), and Renee Perry (Govnors Pub). The MVP was Susan Mosher of Canada Games.

In the Mens B Championship the first semifinal saw Harbour Breton (4-0) take on ONCA Old Thyme (3-1) with ONCA Old Thyme advancing in three games by scores of 15-11, 13-15, and 15-11. The other semifinal had Zapata's (4-0) defeating Smugglers (3-1) by scores of 16-14, and 16-14. In the final ONCA Old Thyme met Zapata's. This match went three games with ONCA Old Thyme winning 15-13, 8-15, and 15-9.

All-stars went to Peter Hickman (ONCA Old Thyme), Jeff Smith (Summit Sports), Keith Clarke (Smuggler), Mike Murrin (Zapatas), Roger Mullet (Loopers), Jamie Hunt (Harbour Breton). The MVP was Darryl Pye of ONCA Old Thyme.

The Ladies B Championship featured Jacob's (4-1) against Gander YQX (4-0) in the first semifinal. Gander YQX won by scores of 15-8 and 15-8. The other semifinal had the Strikers (3-1) taking on Beothuks (5-0) with Beothuks winning 15-8 and 15- 6. The final Beothuks defeated Gander YQX 16-14 and 15-7 to win the championship.

All-stars went to Karen Warr (Jungle Jim's), Joan Kelley (Jacob's), Krista Gillam (Play It Again Sports). Barbara Duggan (Gander YQX), Joanne Woodman (Strikers), and Christine Parsons (Beothuks). The MVP was Jennifer Wicks of Beothuks.

In the Mens C Championship Shanco finished first with a 4-0 record to earn a bye to the final. In the semifinal St. Pierre Amis D'al (3-1) faced St. Pierre Abeilles (2-2) witht the Abeilles winning by scores of 16-14 and 15-6. The final saw Shanco defeat St. Pierre Abeilles in the three games by scores of 15-9, 16-17 and 15-11 to win the championship.

All-star awards went to Clayton Harvey (CBS Pioneers), Dion Humphries (Deer Lake), Yann Blinn (St. Pierre Amis D'al), Joey Wells (Shanco), Terry Chinn (Shanco), and Noela Dacaol (St. Pierre Abeilles). The MVP was John Jacques Giradin of St. Pierre Abeilles.

In the Ladies C Championship saw O'Reilly's Pub (4-0) agaisnt Cabot Crewe (10-3) withe Cabot Crewe advaincing by scores of 15-11, and 15-6. The ohter semifinal had St. Pierre Rescapees (10-2) defeating Cabot College (2-2 by scores of 15-12 and 15-3 to set up the final. In the final the Rescapees defeated Cabot Crewe 15-4 and 15-7 to claim the title.

All-stars went to Natalie Jaiul (Rescapees), Gina Steele (O'Reilly's Pub), Christine Hogan (Cabot Crewe), Clara Penney (Cabot College, Claireaux Laurence (Rescapees), and Patti Hoddinott (Deer Lake). The MVP was Marie Clair Briaud of the Rescapees.

Contact: Stephen Bartlett, (709) 576-0817.