The Vanier Catholic Secondary School Crusaders are building quite a reputation as having a solid volleyball culture.

That reputation was improved after the school's performance at the Dawson Invitational Volleyball Tournament held at Robert Service School over the weekend.

The Crusaders sent their usual four teams to the tourney – boys and girls senior and Grades 9/10 teams – winning three of the four categories.

The senior boys, and both boys and girls Grades 9/10 teams returned to Whitehorse with wins, while the senior girls lost to the Porter Creek Rams in the finals in what Crusaders' athletics director Dwayne Stoker called close games.

Stoker coached the Grade 9/10 boys to victory this year after coaching the senior boys Crusaders to a win in last year's event.

Last year, the Crusaders swept the tournament, winning all four categories.

"And this year we won three, so we did all right this year,” Stoker said.

"It's just a fun tournament for all the kids; we take buses down and play.

"And of course everybody's tired,” he laughed.

Schools from across the Yukon, from Mayo to Carmacks, descended on Dawson City for the tournament, which ran from Thursday to Saturday, and included a Halloween dance Friday night and playoffs on the final day.

"It's one of the top tournaments that anybody – even if they played college or university level – they love this tournament, it's one of their favourites,” Stoker said.

"I think it's because it's all spirit. It's close quarters, so the gym itself is quite small, the courts are small…you have a lot of school spirit going around.

"It's the whole atmosphere that's there that the kids just love,” he added.

The Crusaders must also love the atmosphere around winning.

"For us, even a long time ago, to win in Dawson was quite tough, because we're just a little school, so to speak, and we do quite well. But last year was quite special, when we won all four categories,” Stoker said.

Vanier also came close to sweeping the tournament in 2004, when there was a category for Grade eight.

"This is one of those tournaments that nobody wants to miss,” Stoker said.

"It's one of everybody's favourite tournaments, doesn't matter if it's our school or other schools. And Dawson are great hosts.”

The Crusaders came close to sweeping that year's edition as well, but the Grade eight team the school sent lost in the finals.

But the tournament is about much more than Ws.

"We're quite proud of them, they represented the school well, on and off the court,” Stoker said.

The Crusaders are primed now to compete in the Yukon Volleyball Championships at the end of the month, when teams will travel from across the territory to play.