SHS wants volleyball zones

Times Reporter   

 

Last year, Strathmore High’s girls were knocked out in zones quarter-finals, while the boys failed to win a game at the same level.

Eleven ladies have been named to the varsity team. The girls’ side has only five veteran players from last year’s squad — two graduated, and three chose not to return.

“It was a bit of a disappointment because we worked with them, and last year they were all Grade 11s, so it was really a bit of a learning experience,” said Coach Randy Moncks. “Most of them were on the JV (Junior Varsity) team the year before, and then when they come to me, it’s a different learning curve.”

For this year the team is made up of four Grade 12’s, six Grade 11’s, and one Grade 10; the latter will be used as a backup setter to all-star Erika Myhre.

“She’s been provincial team setter, and she’s already been recruited by the University of Calgary,” Moncks said.

The team finished fourth in the Foothills division in 2012, but Moncks is hoping for more success this time around.

“I’m hoping to get into the league final for sure, and the zones, surrounding the rest of them with Erika, we’re hoping she steps up and she leads us into a better position,” Moncks said. “I’m hoping the Grade 11’s who were Grade 10’s can make a contribution and help us. We’re still fairly young, we’re not that deep.”

Students who tried out but failed to make varsity were invited to try their hand at JV instead.

“We have a really solid JV program now, so we’re quite lucky to have that feed into our program,” Moncks said.

The girls hosted an eight-team exhibition tournament on Sept. 7, but have their first league game on Sept. 18.

The Spartans boys have their first game the same day in Olds. On the final day of tryouts on Sept. 5, Coach Brandie Dundas was still making cuts; the senior and junior team will overlap, finishing with 16 in the combined program.

“We have quite a few players who could play up and play down. So we always like to leave it open. If you work hard, you get to go up to senior,” she said.

In 2012, the boys finished with the JV league banner, and had much growth throughout the year.

“We have some strong 10’s coming up and some awesomely strong grade 12’s coming back,” Dundas said. The team is almost split between the two grades.

“I’d like to take the zone title for senior. JV, I feel like we probably have a chance at the league title again.”