A jump for playoffs

Times Reporter   

 

In their first playoff game of the year on Oct. 29, Strathmore High School’s varsity boys volleyball team eventually wore down Strathcona Tweedsmuir School at home in four sets to continue their post-season: 25-23, 23-25, 25-14, 25-10. Strathcona Tweedsmuir won silver in last year’s league playoffs.

“It was definitely a must-win,” said Strathmore Coach Brandie Dundas. “We played very well. We pushed hard, and there were no mental lulls. We stayed aggressive even when the other team wasn’t playing as well; we kept taking advantage of their weaknesses. It was really impressive, especially at this point in the year.”

Next up on Nov. 4 (result not available as of press time), however, are a team that has won the league championships every year since 2010: Foothills Composite High School. Strathmore has not been crowned champions of the league since 2005. Foothills Composite is unbeaten this season, and finished in first place; they defeated fourth place Strathmore 3-1 on Oct. 16.

“We just have to serve aggressively. One of our strengths is taking teams out of their system, so they can’t run a three-man offense,” Dundas said. “We are a strong serving team when we’re on, and we have the ability to take a lot of their big players out of matches.”

Strathmore High School hosted an exhibition volleyball tournament Nov. 1-2 – good practice for their upcoming challenge.

“It’s always nice to play in front of your home fans, and let the kids be seen by their peers as someone who’s quite good at things,” Dundas said. “Their parents will be able to come, and the staff see them as part of a team. It’s really exciting.”

Strathmore is also hosting zones, giving fans two opportunities to come see important games in their home gym.

“We’ll get to do it again. With this being before, a couple people can see how awesome it is, and then hopefully will come back at zones,” Dundas said.

The Strathmore High School’s junior varsity boys also seeded fourth at the end of regular season play, and are set to face off against first seeded (and undefeated) Holy Trinity Academy on Nov. 4 as well (result not available as of press time). Though Strathmore are defending junior varsity champions, Holy Trinity blanked them on Oct. 21, 3-0.

Both varsity and junior varsity players were on the bench for the Nov. 1-2 tournament.