Six provincial volleyball titles are up for grabs this weekend, as the volleyballers hit the courts throughout the province. Forty-two teams have advanced through qualification tournaments in six divisions.

Eric G. Lambert School in Churchill Falls is the host school for both the boys and girls small schools tournaments which is a tournament for schools with a population less than 45. An Island Tournament was held two weeks ago to determine the representative that would travel to Labrador for this event. In the boys division, the host, Eric G. Lambert School will compete against Lake Melville School (Northwest River), Southwest Arm Academy (Little Hearts Ease) and Jens Haven Memorial (Nain). Squaring off against the host in the girls division will be Our Lady of Labrador High (West St. Modeste), Lake Melville School and J. C. Erhardt Memorial (Makkovik). The tournament begins Friday at 9:00 a.m. and continues throughout the day with an alternating male/female game. The playoffs are scheduled for Saturday morning with the 1^st and 4^th playing off and 2^nd and 3^rd playing off. The gold medal games for both male and female will follow in the afternoon.

Heritage Collegiate in Lethbridge is the host school for the Fair Play Girls Volleyball Provincial. Eight teams will be competing for the title. Competing in division A will be Heritage Collegiate, St. Marks School (Kings Cove), Lewisporte Collegiate and Stephenville High. Division B will see action from Tricentia Academy (Arnolds Cove), Clarenville High, Corner Brook High and St. Micheal�s High (Bell Island). Two courts will be used for round robin play with games on both courts getting underway at 9:30 a.m. The round robin will conclude Saturday morning and will be followed by quarterfinal action. The semi-final and championship match will be played on full court Saturday afternoon.

Cloud River Academy in Roddickton will play host to the Girls 2A Volleyball Provincials featuring eight teams. Teams in Division A include Gill Memorial Academy (Musgrave Harbour), Mountain Field Academy (Forteau), St. Annes School (Conne River) and Viking Trail Academy (Plum Point). Facing off in Division B will be the host, Cloud River Academy, Grandy�s River Collegiate (Burnt Island), Main River Academy (Pollards Point) and John Burke Academy (Grand Bank)

Games get underway at 9:00 a.m. Friday with round robin games continuing though out Friday and Saturday morning. The top two teams from each division will meet in the semi-finals followed by the championship game.

Glovertown Academy and Smallwood Academy in Gambo are co-hosting the Girls 3A Volleyball Provincials. Division A will play out of Glovertown Academy and will pit the host team against Menihek High (Labrador City), Riverwood Academy (Wings Point), Piccadilly High (Port Au Port) and Random Island Academy. Division B will be played at Smallwood Academy as the host school takes on St. James Regional High (Port Aux Basques), St. Michael�s High (Bell Island, Leo Burke Academy (Bishop Falls) and Pasadena Academy.

The opening ceremonies are scheduled for 8:50 a.m. at Glovertown with games at both venues getting underway starting at 10:30 a.m. The semifinals and finals will take place at Smallwood Academy from 11:00 a.m. onward with two semi-finals games, a bronze medal game followed by a championship game.

Ascension Collegiate in Bay Roberts is the host school for the Girls 4A Volleyball Tournament. Ten teams are competing for top honors in this event, which will take place at Ascension Collegiate and All Hallows School.

Division 1 competitors include the host Ascension Collegiate, Clarenville High, Stephenville High, Holy Heart High (St. John�s) and Holy Spirit High (Manuels). Competing in Division 2 will between Bishops College (St. John�s), Corner Brook High, Exploits Valley High (Grand Falls-Windsor), Prince of Wales Collegiate (St. John�s) and Mount Pearl Senior High.

Games at both venues get underway at 1:00 p.m. The opening ceremonies will take place at 11:00 a.m. at Ascension Collegiate followed by a Skills Rally. The semifinals will be played Saturday at 2:30 p.m., featuring the top teams in each division. The championship game will go ahead at 4:00 p.m.

In its continuing effort to emphasize sportsmanship, School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador, are sponsoring the Sportsmanship First Program. In addition to the team sportsmanship banner, each team will nominate an individual player to receive an individual sportsmanship medal.

The top teams will be awarded with gold and silver medals, while the winner of the championship game will also receive the coveted championship banner.

RBC has joined as a major partner of School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador.

For complete schedule and game scores, visit www.schoolsportsnl.ca

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Convenors:

Boys and Girls Small Schools Volleyball Terry Holmes 709-925-3371 (Tel) 709-925-3364 (Fax)
Girls 4A Volleyball - Glen Lane 709-786-3460 (Tel) 709-786-0660 (Fax)
Girls 3A Volleyball - Steve Harris (Glovertown) 709-533-2542 (Tel) 709-533-1136 (Fax)
                              Dennis Lush (Gambo) 709-674-5336 (Tel) 709-674-4244 (Fax))
Girls 2A Volleyball - Rhonda Martin 709-457-2430 (Tel) 709-457-2409 (Fax)
Girls Fair Play Volleyball - Carol Blundon 709-467-2717 (Tel) 709-467-2152

Media contact:

Karen Richard
Executive Director
709-729-2795

2007 12 07                                                     3:35 p.m.