‘Dynasty in the Making’: École Notre Dame Sr Girls Punch Ticket to 3A Provincials

When you walk into the gym at École Notre Dame High School right now, you can feel it – that mix of nerves, excitement, and quiet confidence that only comes before a big tournament.

For the senior girls volleyball team and head coach Tyson Watters, this weekend in Grande Prairie isn’t just another road trip. It’s a chance to prove that what they’ve been building in Bonnyville is more than just a good run.

It might be the start of a dynasty.

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From 13 Players to 7 – and Still Finding a Way

The Saints’ path to 3A Provincials hasn’t exactly been smooth.

“We started the season with 13 kids,” Coach Watters said, laughing. “We finished Zones with seven.”

Between a baseball/softball prospects event in Saskatoon and a missions trip to Zimbabwe, the Saints were missing multiple key players at the Zone Tournament – including three athletes who normally log big minutes.

Most teams would’ve had a built-in excuse. Notre Dame didn’t take it.

“Three of those are key players that play a lot of minutes for us,” Watters explained. “So for us to gut our way into a wild card at Provincials is a pretty impressive feat.”

With just seven players essentially going wire-to-wire on the court all weekend, the Saints battled their way into a wild card berth, earning another shot on the provincial stage.

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Back-to-Back at 3A – and No Signs of Slowing Down

This is Notre Dame’s second straight trip to 3A Provincials, and by Coach Watters’ count, the fourth or fifth year in a row the school has sent a team to Provincials in volleyball.

“We’ve been 2A forever,” he said. “Last year was our first go-round at 3A. We’re just above the new numbers, and we’re going to be in the 3A zone for a long time.”

Some of the usual rivals have already moved up to 4A, including Rosarie, who edged the Saints in three sets in the Zone final and may also be bumped up next year.

That shuffle only strengthens Notre Dame’s position.

“I don’t see anyone catching up with what Notre Dame has been able to do,” Watters said. “We have an excellent feeder system in the club system. We have great people in the Grade 9s and 10s. It’s going to be hard to catch this school at 3A for a long time.”

Call it what it is: that’s the foundation of a long-term powerhouse.

You heard it here first – the dynasty has started.

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First Touch, First Job: How They Win in Grande Prairie

So what has to happen this weekend for Notre Dame to bring home some hardware?

For Coach Watters, it all starts with one thing.

“The biggest thing for us is our ability to control the first ball,” he said. “First touch is going to be huge on serve and then on defence.”

The Saints will also get a major boost with the return of Sarah, a Grade 12 athlete who Watters calls exceptional in that role.

“She controls the floor on defence and on serve receive,” he said. “That’s going to allow some of our Grade 10s, who I’ve asked to pass serve, to take a breath and know they have some support. They had to get ’er done this weekend – and they did.”

With Sarah stabilizing the back row and the younger players gaining confidence, Watters believes his team has the tools to make a real push.

“If we can control that first touch, I think we have some weapons that we can go for a little run into these 3A Provincials.”

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“We Can Come Home with Some Hardware”

After catching up with Coach, I sat down with Faith and Memphis, two leaders on this Notre Dame squad, as they get set for the seven-hour bus ride to Grande Prairie.

“How excited are you for Provincials?” I asked.

“So excited,” Memphis laughed. “I’m excited to play… not so much for the seven-hour drive.”

Homework was mentioned as a bus activity… but let’s be honest, we all know how that usually goes on a Provincial trip.

Looking ahead at their pool, the girls are confident but realistic.

“I think we’re going to do good in our pool, looking at who’s in there,” Faith said. “It might be tough when we get into playoffs, but you never know.”

“I totally agree with Faith,” added Memphis. “I think we can come home with some hardware if we work really hard.”

That’s the mentality. Respect for the competition, but zero fear of it.

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What a Win Would Mean

This year’s roster is a real mix – two Grade 12s, including Sarah and Faith, and a strong group of Grade 10s getting their first taste of 3A Provincials.

“I think it would mean a lot, especially since we only have two Grade 12s,” Memphis said. “It’d mean a lot to them if we came home with something. And for the Grade 10s, being able to bring something home in their first year would be huge.”

Faith, staring down her last year in high school volleyball, didn’t mince words.

“It would be really nice to win in my last year,” she said with a smile. “It would be one of the best memories of my life, for sure.”

I asked if that was fair to say – that winning this tournament would go down as one of the biggest memories they’d ever have.

“Oh, absolutely,” they answered. “Yes. 100%.”

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Socks, Knee Pads, Metal & Mr. Saturday Night

You can’t chase a title without a few good superstitions.

“If we do good the first day, I’ll wear the same pair of socks,” Memphis admitted. “My knee pads have to go on the same knees every time.”

Then there’s the soundtrack.

“Usually if we can play music, we play Mr. Saturday Night as our pre-game song,” she said. “Then the rest is just hardcore metal rock.”

Faith’s ritual?

“I have a favourite ball I warm up with every time,” she said. “It’s special to us.”

Little routines. Big stakes.

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One Town Behind Them

From talking with Coach Watters, Faith, and Memphis, one thing is clear: this team has already climbed over a lot of hurdles just to get here.

Short bench. Tough Zones. New tier. Long road trip.

And they’re still standing, still swinging, and still believing.

I told them what I’ll tell you:

The whole town of Bonnyville is behind them. We know they can do it. And we’d love nothing more than to see them bring that hardware home.

Whether this weekend ends with a medal or just another step forward, one thing feels certain:

At École Notre Dame High School, the volleyball dynasty has already begun.