HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
After posting a 2-2 record in preliminary play, the Stettler Wildcats senior girls volleyball team advanced to the playoffs in the Ardrossan Blue and White Classic on the weekend.
“In the playoff round, the girls met up with a strong team from Beaverlodge and held a commanding lead in the first set, only to run into a string of missed passes that allowed the opponents to take the first set,” said Wildcats coach Warren Aspenes.
Beaverlodge went on to win the second set and eliminate the Wildcats.
“Despite the early playoff loss, the girls were very optimistic about their play throughout the weekend,” said Aspenes, the athletic director at William E. Hay Composite High School.
“We just introduced a new defensive coverage scheme the day before the tournament, so we were learning on the fly. By the end of the tournament, we had become a better team, which is what we are always trying to accomplish.”
In preliminary action, Stettler finished third in its pool, scoring wins over Jasper and Austin O’Brien and losing to Grand Trunk and host Ardrossan.
The senior Wildcats and the JV girls were scheduled to resume league action Tuesday when they visited Rocky Mountain House. Those Stettler teams host the Hunting Hills Lightning of Red Deer next Tuesday (Oct. 11).
JV boys victorious
In junior varsity boys volleyball action Monday, the Stettler Wildcats posted a 3-2 marathon victory over host Camrose.
Stettler lost 26-24 in each of the first two sets and came back to win the next three.
“All the games were tightly matched,” said Wildcats coach Rachelle Campeau.
“All the boys played well, but Jordan Smyth took home the player-of-the- game shirt, having some fantastic net plays. T.J. Dahl, Ross Salmon and Wyatt Peters were great assets to the team, with some solid hits and great blocking. Jordan Bauman also made a huge difference in defence, playing libero.”
Stettler is back on the road today to face Notre Dame in Red Deer.
The Wildcats’ next home dates are Oct. 17 against Ponoka and Oct. 19 versus Hunting Hills.
Two wins for Grade 9s
The Grade 9 girls team from William E. Hay opened the volleyball season with a bang, scoring victories over Big Valley and Christ-King.
“The girls showed great sportsmanship and worked well as a team,” said Wildcats coach Brittaney Code.