PORT McNEILL—A.J. Elliott Elementary School continued its strong run against a diminished field of opponents last week when its Grade 4-5 students swept unbeaten to the top spot in the annual throw volleyball tournament at Cheslakees Elementary School.
The Sointula school went unbeaten to "win" the fun tourney for the second straight year.
A.J. Elliott outdueled Sunset Team 3 in a meeting of teams that won all their games in round-robin action.
Throw volleyball introduces newcomers to the sport with the aid of a soft, foam ball and rules that allow players to catch and throw in place of bumping, setting and spiking.
The tournament was a longtime tradition at Cheslakees before the school was converted to a kindergarten and early learning centre and its other students transferred to nearby Sunset Elementary. It was hosted by Sunset and organized by Larry Burroughs, the retired former Cheslakees principal who has continued to assist at schoolwide activities including the cross-country meet held in October in Sointula.
Only three schools entered teams in the tourney this year, for a total of six teams. Sunset Elementary, bolstered by the addition of former Cheslakees students, had three teams and Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw entered two teams.