Volleyball club takes bronze in Premier debut

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By Patrick Price Times Contributor

Sports can be full of surprises, and one of the latest surprises on a local level occurred in Edmonton on Feb. 29-March 1, when the upstart U14 boys’ team from the Strathmore Volleyball Club won a bronze medal in Division 2 in their first Alberta Premier tournament.
The team only lost two games in one set throughout the tournament while winning 10 games in five sets.
“The only set we lost was to Lacombe in the semifinal, who went on to win the gold medal,” said coach Matt Byma. “One of our best players didn’t play and I think if he was there, we could have finished first.”
The team was formed this season and is comprised of junior high athletes in Strathmore.
“The group of kids we have are remarkable athletes,” noted Byma. “They are from four junior high schools and they all play other sports like basketball and hockey. They all kind of knew each other from the other sports so there was an immediate bond. They are like sponges. They are quick learners and soak up everything we teach them.”
The U14 team was created this season through the Strathmore Volleyball Club, organized by Cole Hintz. Last year, when the club enjoyed its first season, there was only one team, a U15 boys’ team. This year, there are three teams – U14, U15 and U16 – and the sport is growing in popularity.
“About six years ago my wife and I started a volleyball program in Strathmore,” said Cole Hintz, who also coaches the senior varsity boys’ volleyball team at Strathmore High School. “It was designed to teach kids and players about the game. In volleyball you only have to worry about a three-metre square, whereas in other sports you are competing against another player in that square. Last year we started the Strathmore Volleyball Club, where the emphasis is on development.”
Due to their success in their first competitive Premier, the team will now move up to Division 1. The top three teams in Division 2 move up to Division 1 while the bottom three teams in Division 1 are relegated to Division 2.
“I think it will be good for the boys,” Byma said. “I think we’ll do well. A lot of teams don’t know us because we missed the first Premier of the season and we were in Division 2. I have no doubt we can compete in Division 1, but we must execute. We have to make fewer mistakes than the other team. In Division 1 we’ll definitely be an underdog. The top teams don’t have us on the radar yet, but they will when we play them.”
There is no doubt volleyball in Strathmore is gaining momentum, like a snowball rolling down a hill. But, there are extraneous aches and pains associated with that popularity, such as poaching players by other club coaches, mainly from the big cities.
“As volleyball becomes more popular in Strathmore, other coaches will approach junior and senior high school players to get them to play for their club teams,” said Byma. “We have already had a club coach approach a player. However, the players have to sign a commitment letter at the beginning of the season.”
The next Premier tournament the team will be competing in is in Calgary, March 21-22, which will be followed by Volleyball Alberta’s Provincial Championships, to be held in mid-April in Red Deer.
“I’m excited,” Byma said. “I’m excited for our team and I am excited to see where this program goes in the next 10 years. We have three underage kids playing on the team who will be back with us next year. There are going to be a lot of good volleyball players coming through the system in the future.”
Sports can be full of surprises, but not too surprising when there are dedicated, passionate coaches such as Matt Byma and Cole Hintz. The proof, the results, are in the pudding.