Juniors move on, seniors slip

Times Reporter   

 

Though Holy Trinity Academy (HTA) had swept Strathmore High School (SHS) in junior boys volleyball action on Oct. 21 by a score of 3-0, the Strathmore Spartans had their revenge in Okotoks on Nov. 4. SHS won 25-21, 25-17,25-19, to earn a berth in the league final against County Central High School (CCHS) on Nov. 6.

“I just encouraged the guys to have fun, and they went out and really did,” Cole Hintz said, coach of the junior boys. “They were out there playing for each other, and it made a big difference.”

The Spartans last loss was against CCHS – on Oct. 28, the match went to a deciding 18-16 fifth set.

“The team we beat yesterday (HTA), we played in league, and they beat us in three as well,” Hintz said. “Our team has definitely been improving and it’s starting to show in the results, the way they’ve been playing together.”

County Central finished 5-2 in league play, while Strathmore finished 3-3. However, County Central has only won four more sets than SHS, and was only three points ahead in the standings.

Strathmore is looking to retain their league championship from 2012. County Central High School has only placed as high as the semi finals in recent years.

The senior boys Spartans did not fare the same as the juniors, losing to Foothills Composite High School in three straight sets Nov. 4. They had lost to them on Oct. 16 by a score of 3-1 as well.

“It is what it is,” said Brandie Dundas, senior coach. “They’re a very strong technical team. They don’t make errors for the most part, so it’s hard to capitalize on their errors when they’re not making any. They’re a big, aggressive, fundamentally sound team. They kept chipping away at us, we’d go point for point, and every once in a while they’d get that second point.”

The sets were close – 25-19, 25-22, 25-19 – however Foothills has won the senior boys league finals every years since 2010, and look to continue their streak. They will face HTA in the league final on Nov. 7.

“We’re definitely proud. Our ultimate goal is the zone banner, which is still out there,” Dundas said.

Strathmore will host boys’ volleyball zones on Nov. 15-16.