Stettler’s junior girls volleyball team enjoyed another successful week, winning three of four sets in Rocky Mountain House and taking silver at a home tournament on the weekend.
“We played exceptionally well,” said coach Alicia Kneeland, still glowing with pride over the girls’ performance in the six-team interlock tournament, held at William E. Hay Composite High school on Saturday, Oct. 4.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better team, or a better showing of my team.”
The junior girls hosted Camrose, Ponoka’s St. Augustine, Caroline, Tofield and Pigeon Lake on Saturday.
The home team won second place in its pool, defeated St. Augustine in semifinals and faced Camrose in the gold medal game, playing two close sets and ultimately taking silver.
On Tuesday, Sept. 30, the junior girls played Rocky Mountain House’s West Central High School, winning three of four sets. The results were 25-18, 25-11, 14-25 and 25-15.
Sophie Shepherd was named William E. Hay’s player of the game. Kneeland said Shepherd was “pleased as punch” to accept the honour after showing marked improvement.
“All of a sudden, it clicked,” said the coach. “She was making incredible plays at the net . . She’s a monster.”
Kneeland also had high praise for players Shianne Klatt and Ashley Sukkau, saying they “served like college players” and helped the team rack up points.
The junior girls will remain at home for the rest of October, hosting Lacombe on Oct. 14, Wetaskiwin on Oct. 21, and Innisfail on Oct. 28.
Junior boys
The junior boys team travelled to Rocky Mountain House on Wednesday, Oct. 1, losing in three close sets to their hosts. The results were 23-25, 20-25 and 15-25.
The team also hosted a four-team interlock tournament on Saturday, Oct. 4, where they suffered as a result of having just six players present, finishing in last place.
“The boys are still showing improvement,” observed Kneeland, saying that they are starting to learn their rotations and positions, and “really are looking like a team.”
Coach Joe Thibeau could not be reached for comment by press time. With no games scheduled this week, the boys will play in Lacombe on Oct. 15, hosting Innisfail on Oct. 22 and Wetaskiwin on Oct. 29.
Senior boys
Stettler’s senior boys won three straight sets in Rocky Mountain House on Wednesday, Oct. 1. The results were 25-14, 25-19 and 25-14.
Coach Derrick Hatch observed that the boys are showing definite progress with each game, noting, “We’re a better team than we were when we started out.”
The team’s player of the game was Grade 12 student Adam Pitzel, who played as the senior boys’ “libero,” or a dedicated defensive specialist who can substitute for back-row players.
The boys also competed at a tournament on Saturday, Oct. 4 at Calgary’s Bishop O’Byrne High School, where Hatch said they had mixed success.
“Our guys played well, but the competition was fierce,” he remarked. “We did put in some quality ball.”
The senior boys will visit Lacombe on Oct. 15 and will host Wetaskiwin on Oct. 29.
Senior girls
The senior girls visited Rocky Mountain House on Tuesday, Sept. 30, winning in one set with a score of 25-22. The results for the remaining three sets were 22-25, 12-25 and 23-25.
The girls also played in a tournament at Calgary’s Bishop O’Byrne High School on Oct. 3 and 4. Coach Corinne Stephenson could not be reached for comment or further details.
The senior girls will host Lacombe on Oct. 14.