Spartans volleyball thumped in Med Hat

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

It was a less-than-memorable weekend for the Strathmore High School girls volleyball team in Medicine Hat.
“I wouldn’t say it was an awful weekend, but we definitely struggled,” said Spartans head coach Randy Moncks. “Maybe Friday the 13th had something to do with it.”
In their first action in two weeks, the Spartans came out flat and never regrouped.
The Spartans dropped their opening match 2-0 (18-25, 16-25) to the Monsignor McCoy High School Colts and followed that up with a 2-0 (24-26, 18-25) loss to the Brooks Composite High School Buffalos.
“Friday was like we never played volleyball before; we had a tough time reading plays on defence and executing our plays on offence,” said Moncks.
Not helping the Spartans was having a pair of middle blockers succumb to injuries.
Kirsten Wheland turned an ankle and Alicia O’Keefe pulled a calf muscle, shrinking Monck’s depth chart that was already missing Natalie Funk, who was away at a different volleyball tournament.
Things began to turn Oct. 14, when the Spartans played better, but still lost 2-0 (20-25, 22-25) to the host Crescent Heights High School Vikings.
Finishing fourth following the round robin stage, the Spartans took on the Eagle Butte High School Talons, but lost 2-0 (23-25, 18-25).
The Spartans are back in action this weekend in Magrath for another tournament. The next home action for the Spartans takes place Nov. 3-4, as they host their annual tournament.