Lady Spartans conclude volleyball season

Posted on: Staff Writer

Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
 
The Spartans girls volleyball team was in Lloydminster from Nov. 25-27 competing in the 3A Provincial Championship. 
“It was a bit of a rollercoaster weekend. We left Wednesday, and we started our first matches on Thursday,” said coach Randy Moncks.  
“We started off with two wins so that was a really good start, a real positive start to the tournament.”
The girls won their first two matches, but Friday was a shaky day, full of inconsistencies, said Moncks. On Saturday they had a great day, but ended up losing in three to Westlock. They were both 2-2 and the final game was 15-13 in the final set.   
“It’s tough losing but the girls played extremely hard and they battled, there was no easy points. We were sad that we lost but we’re happy in the way how they finished,” said Moncks. 
The girls placed fourth in their pool, which eliminated them from participating in the playoffs.  
The whole season has been up and down for the team with injuries, sickness and other things affecting the team. 
“We never really had ten girls until the last three weeks of our season. It was a bit of a rollercoaster season. We would play with the top teams and then we would end up losing to some very shaky teams,” said Moncks. 
“We played very well in our zone championships. It was a very encouraging last three weeks, and we were very pleased on how the girls worked and our results and stuff.  They really came together as a group so we were extremely happy and we were very excited for our provincial championship run.”
“We had a wonderful, wonderful bunch of girls, and their parents were so supportive. They followed these girls all around and made sure they were fed and looked after.” 
They are losing four girls to graduation next year, but he said there are some very talented Grade 9 students coming up. 
“Next year is going to be something that we’re looking forward to already.”
Two of their Grade 12 girls play club volleyball in Calgary and a few of the Grade 11 also play club. Moncks said those girls will be playing volleyball practically year round, which helps the program immensely.