Fine individual and collective play by a local club team, Blue Synergy 1 resulted in a bronze medal at the first of three Premier U-16 volleyball tournaments that were held this season.
Blue Synergy 1 had victories over Sherwood Park KAOS, Killam Spartans, East Central Chill, and others in the two-day event held in Edmonton on Saturday, Feb. 11 and Sunday, Feb. 12.
“I was proud of the girls’ level of play, especially when considering the many city teams we were against,” said Coach Don Seale. “Those teams cut as many as 20-30 girls when selecting players. Our roster has eight. Needless to say, we didn’t cut anyone.”
However, winning bronze did not come without its lows for the team, with the girls struggling badly in the second set of its match against a powerful team from Peace River.
“We stayed with them in the first set (25-27), but imploded in the second,” Seale added. “It’ll take time for the girls to feel confident enough to play consistently at such a high level.”
Synergy did not give up but rebounded with a victory in the crossover match, which, as the draw would have it, was against Blue Synergy 2.
“We didn’t like having to play our sister team,” Seale explained. “That shouldn’t have happened, especially when considering there were 36 teams attending.”
A shoulder injury to setter Hanna Norman in the following semis contributed to a two-straight loss to Lacombe Thunder.
Synergy 1 rebounded with a victory in the bronze medal match against Wetaskiwin, winning 25-23, 16-25 and 15-5.
Blue Synergy’s two teams are comprised of 17 players from the surrounding area, including Alix, Bashaw, Castor, Coronation, Donalda, Erskine, Forestburg, and Stettler.