The strength of the Niverville Panthers volleyball program has been well document over the years.

All you have to do is check the Manitoba High School's Athletic Association website every November and click on the Provincial “A/AA” Junior Varsity Championships or the Provincial “AA” Varsity Championships.

Two things seem to happen year in and year out at the provincials.

A Panthers team qualifies for the playoffs and then they're playing for either a championship or third place banner.

This month was no different.

Niverville captured the Provincial “A/AA” junior varsity boys championship banner in Shilo.

The Panthers rallied to beat Zone 13 rivals Gabrielle Roy 11-25, 25-19, 15-11 in the final.

Setter/left side hitter Austin Anderson was named the MVP and Josh Limpright and Lijah Doell were selected to the All-Star team.

 

Niverville Panthers captured the Provincial A/AA Junior Varsity Volleyball Championship


Niverville lost to the eventual champion Killarney Raiders in the Provincial “AA” varsity girls semifinals in Russell and then faced Grunthal's Green Valley Pirates in the third place game.

The Zone 13 champions beat the Panthers 25-16, 25-14.

Niverville's Jordyn Olafson was named to the All-Star team.

Three years ago the Panthers captured both the junior varsity boys and varsity boys championship banners.

The school was as close as you can get to duplicating that feat this past weekend.

Niverville lost twice at the “AA” varsity boys provincials in Dominion City and both losses were to the Major Pratt Trojans of Russell.

The first was in the round robin – the second was in the championship game.

The Trojans beat the Panthers 13-25, 25-21, 15-13.

Niverville trailed 8-5 when the two teams switched sides in the deciding third set.

The Panthers rallied from a 12-7 deficit to tie the game at 13-13 but couldn't complete the comeback.

Niverville middle hitter Chris Giesbrecht was named the Panthers Player of the Game.

“We came out strong the first set every game and then the second set, it seemed like we were cursed this weekend," said Giesbrecht. "They're (Major Pratt) a good team - congrats to them, very classy.”

Niverville had a 3-1 round robin record and then beat Gabrielle Roy and Steinbach Christian in the playoffs.

“We played good,” Giesbrecht said. “We could have played better at times. We let down at a few of those games. We could have played better. We could have had that trophy but I guess it's not meant to be.”

This season the Panthers roster included eight players who are graduating in June.

Giesbrecht says it was great ride for this special group of volleyball players.

“We've been to four straight finals now, this grade 12 group. Great bunch of guys, just been unlucky these past couple of years. It happens I guess.”

Giesbrecht and Markus Renaud were named to the All-Star team.

Ron Limpright, who guided the jv boys to a provincial championship and the varsity boys to a second place finish, played for legendary Panthers coach Don Dulder and as a phys-ed instructor, has been involved with Niverville's volleyball program for many, many years.

After their tough loss to the Trojans Saturday night, Limpright was asked why volleyball is and always has been the king of sports at Niverville Collegiate.

“It's hard to explain. There's a tradition of it and it goes way back to the mid-to-late 1970's and once that tradition is in place I think the culture of the school and the zone fosters that.”

 

gallery photos by Sam Dreger