It was four years in the making.
After first working with the majority of the Humboldt Collegiate Mohawks boys volleyball team four years ago, head coach David Millette set a goal for the team to win the provincial title this year, and the Mohawks realized that goal over the weekend as they captured the 4A provincial title on their home floor.
The Mohawks wrapped up the Nov. 24-25 tournament with a perfect 7-0 record, that saw them fail to lose a set along the way.
鈥淚t sounds a little bit surreal at this point鈥� it couldn鈥檛 happen to a greater bunch of guys. I don鈥檛 know if it鈥檚 fully set in yet. I鈥檓 just so proud of how hard they鈥檝e worked for years on this,鈥� noted Millette.
The Mohawks kicked off their tournament with a perfect day one as they rolled past Moose Jaw Vanier, Sturgis, and Saskatoon Christian, all two sets to none to sit in a tie for first place in their pool.
The final round robin match of the tournament for the Mohawks came against Shaunavon, with first place in Pool B on the line.
A run of eight straight points early in the first set proved as the difference for the Mohawks, who never looked back as they knocked off Shaunavon two sets to none (25-18, 25-17) to capture first place in Pool B.
The Mohawks鈥� reward for finishing on top of their pool was a showdown with Biggar, who finished fourth in Pool A.
The match got off to a slow start for the Mohawks as they needed a late rally, scoring seven of the final ten points to win the first set 26-24.
Winning that first set was huge, admitted Millette, who noted the Mohawks were struggling with some nerves.
鈥淚t was so important for us to come together as a team, support some guys who were struggling and it made us realize how good we could be and I think it totally relaxed us. The turning point of today was us being able to battle through our struggles and then it was free and easy playing after that.鈥�
The Mohawks carried the momentum from their first set win into the second and were rewarded as a seven point run midway through the second set proved to be the difference as the Mohawks won the set 25-19, and the match two sets to none.
The win moved the Mohawks into the semi-final, where they took on Melville.
Much like their last match, the Mohawks were pushed to the limit in the first set against Melville.
Three different runs of four answered points did little to provide the Mohawks separation, as they needed extra points to earn the first set 27-25.
The Mohawks did not look back in the second set as they used two runs of five, two runs of four, and a run of three to cruise past Melville 25-15 in the second set, and two sets to none in the match.
The win moved the Mohawks into the final, where they took on La Loche.
After a pair of tough tests in the first set of their last two matches, the Mohawks refused to give La Loche a chance to get into the match as they jumped out to a 15-9 lead.
La Loche used their first timeout once the score reached 15-9, and it seemed to pay off as they rattled off five unanswered points to cut the Mohawks鈥� lead back to one.
As was the case all tournament long, the Mohawks then went on an extended run of their own scoring five unanswered points to lead 20-14.
La Loche again called timeout, but this time it did not work as the Mohawks scored five of the final seven points in the set to take the first set 25-16.
The Mohawks put the match away in the second set scoring 14 of 17 points midway through the second set to turn a 4-4 tie into an 18-7 Mohawks lead.
The boys in black, blue and gold never looked back from there as they rolled to a 25-15 win to capture the provincial title with a two sets to none win.
Looking back over the course of the whole tournament, Millette was pleased with how the team was able to play, noting that they were firing on all cylinders.
鈥淲e鈥檙e such a complete team that they supported the guys who were struggling. We haven鈥檛 lost a set since regionals. It was just an incredible season. We got better as the weekend went on and boy we were ready for this final.鈥�
Grade 12 student Seth Schuler, who has spent the last four years on the volleyball team noted it was icing on the cake to be able to win the provincial title in his final year of high school.
It was especially special to win given that Schuler had grown up playing high school volleyball with the majority of the team, and said it was amazing to win the title with that group.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nothing like anything anyone else will ever feel. It鈥檚 a one in a lifetime opportunity.鈥�
Schuler admitted it was a long road to get to the provincial title, but said it was all worth it in the end.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been preparing for this for the last four years and leading up to it all the practices, getting up at 7:00 a.m., it鈥檚 worth it in the end and it鈥檚 paying off right now.鈥�
聽Throughout the course of the tournament, the Mohawks were lucky to play in front of a packed house for the majority of their matches, which was great to see, notes Schuler.
鈥淜nowing Humboldt鈥檚 more of a hockey community, seeing a full crowd from a school sport of volleyball really makes it quite nice. It鈥檚 good to see everyone come out and support us and it was fun with all the fans cheering us on.鈥�
Looking ahead to next year, the Mohawks lose all but five players off their team, but Millette says the experience from this year will only serve to help the squad moving forward.
鈥淚f I were to mention Jay Eichorst, he鈥檚 a grade 9 player who started. Just think about the next three years of experience he鈥檚 bringing with the team鈥� It leaves a legacy of excellence.鈥�
Despite losing nine of the 14 players on the team, Millette says he expects the team to be competitive again next season.
鈥淲e have four very solid grade 11s, we have some very solid young guys coming up in our developmental program.鈥�
See more photos from the weekend at .
