St. Paul's High School Archives: Volleyball in Manitoba

MHSAA: Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association

MVA: Manitoba Volleyball Association

PTAA: Pembina Trails Athletic Association

St. JAAC / SJAAC: St. James - Assinboia Athletic Conference (now the WWAC)

WWAC: Winnipeg West Athletic Conference

YMCA: Young Men's Christian Association

YWCA: Young Women's Christian Association

It is not known exactly when volleyball was first introduced to the athletic communities of Manitoba, though it can be traced to the early decades of the 1900s. During this time it became a popular sport at the local YMCA and YWCA with a league organized no later than the early 1910s. Schools were also quick to adopt the sport, and it became part of Winnipeg's inter-playground series for both boys and girls in the 1910s. 

From the early introduction of the sport, high schools and the local universities organized competitive leagues and intramural games. Among the local leagues was the University of Manitoba's inter-faculty league, organized in 1934, which involved teams from across the campus, such as "Science", "Law", the "Aggies", and St. Paul's College. The league continued for many years. Students now compete in intramural sports without a faculty designation, while elite athletes play in the Canadian U Sports league.  

With the organization of the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association (MHSAA) in 1962, high school athletics, including the development of a volleyball league, were overseen by a centralized organization. Hosted by the MHSAA, the first provincial high school volleyball tournament was held during the 1965/1966 school year. This annual tournament has continued and is now played by the four different divisions of school athletics (A, AA, AAA, and AAAA), allowing high schools from across the province to congregate and compete at the highest level.

Since it's early introduction at the turn of the 20th century, volleyball has been a favored pastime amongst Manitobans. It has developed since that time to become a major sport in high school competition and local league play.