The Dauphin Clippers senior boys volleyball team opened the season strong, finishing second at the Brandon University Varsity Boys Tournament, Friday and Saturday in Brandon.

Dauphin opened Friday’s round-robin portion of the tournament with a 25-17 and 25-15 win over Neepawa, then won the split over MBCI of The Pas, 22-25 and 25-18.

Following a 24-26 and 12-25 loss to Brandon’s Vincent Massey, the Clippers again won a split, this time over Carlton, Sask., 25-11 and 24-26.

Dauphin ended Friday’s action with a 25-19 and 25-21 win over Fort Richmond.

The Clippers finished third in their pool setting up a Round of 16 match against Yorkton to begin play on Saturday.

Dauphin won that match 25-19 and 25-20 to advance to the quarterfinals where they beat Weyburn, 23-25, 25-23 and 15-9.

The Clippers then bested Garden Valley, 32-30, 20-25 and 15-12 in the semifinals setting up a date with the Neelin Spartans in the championship match where the Clippers were sunk, 13-25 and 14-25.

Gabriel Beaudin was named to the tournament all-star team.

Clippers coach Taylor Schmidt said it was a great start to the season.

“From where we started the tournament to where ended, we just continued to improve throughout the tournament and making adjustments. The players were working every single match and improving their play, and the team play. It came together at the end in the semifinals,” he said.

Schmidt noted this is the best finish the Clippers have had at this tournament, having previously finished fourth.

A strong start like this will give the Clippers something to build on in the future.

“Having a start like that sets the tone in what we can do and gives us a starting point to work in practice and goals from where we’re at to where we want to go to,” he said, adding it’s a great place to be starting.

The Clippers played against some tough teams, Schmidt said, such as Garden Valley, Carlton, Weyburn and Neelin.

“We were right there. And we were able to beat Carlton and Garden Valley and Weyburn. We beat those strong teams. And Neelin is a strong team. They’re in our interzone, so we’re definitely going to see them again,” he said.

“So the confidence I think the players got from winning and competing tells them that, hey, we’re here to compete with the top teams and beat the top teams. And walking into other tournaments and facing other teams with that confidence that we can compete and beat these top teams is a great place to start.”