Wow Pow volleyball tournament sees 42 teams

One of the biggest volleyball tournaments out there saw local teams claim the hardware in Lac La Biche.

The J.A. Williams Wow Pow tournament celebrated its 50th anniversary last weekend, with 42 teams in competition at the Bold Center.

In the girls draw, the Notre Dame Wildcats continued a remarkable season, which saw them not only take gold for the fourth straight tournament, but continue an undefeated season at 27-0.

The Wildcats faced up against the Plamondon Hawks once again in the final. The 1A and 2A combatants have met three times in a final this year alone. Notre Dame collected straight set wins 25-20 and 25-15 to take the gold medal.

Notre Dame Wildcats win at Wow Pow. Image credit: Matt MacLellan.

The Plamondon Hawks boys team also made the final on the either side of the draw, coming up against the hosts in J.A. Williams.

The Hawks took the match in straight sets and appear to be a formidable foe on the 1A side when zones and Provincials comes around in a couple of weeks.

JAWS had defeated the Two Hills Tigers in the semifinals, who had ousted the Notre Dame Wildcats in the previous round.

Wildcats will have tough competition ahead

Before playoff volleyball begins, the girls Wildcats squad will be threatened with solid opponents this upcoming weekend in Lloydminster, and the following weekend in Rocky Mountain House. That tournament will see a few sides that contended at 2A Provincials last year.

-With files from Scott Cameron.