Junior A girl Hawks soar, still undefeated

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The Holy Cross Collegiate Hawks junior A girls volleyball team seemed to be getting stronger in their matches they played and it showed in being crowned champions of their home tournament on Oct. 16 and 17, while keeping the undefeated season alive.
Coach Greg Appleyard thinks the win showed the team’s identity of hard work and intensity they bring to the court game in and game out.
“It’s great to be a part of a group of a girls that play so well,” said Appleyard.
“When they play intense, they’re a lot of fun to watch. Everything is three hits and great digs.”
He added that this type of skill does not happen often at this age.
Both Appleyard and their other coach Vito Peraino coached a majority of these girls with the Strathmore CHAOS club team and carry the same approach into the Hawks team, and everyone gets ample playing time.
“Just hard work,” said Appleyard.
“Our focus is not different than club. If you can practice with intensity, you play with intensity. As a team, all these tournaments, we’re able to get everybody off the bench in the game and everyone gets to play and that’s pretty special. It takes a whole team effort.”
Captain Kimberly Kouwenhoven felt the team was positive going into their home tournament because of being the hosts and becoming accustomed to winning.
“Our whole team knows that we’re a good team this year,” she said.
“It feels great because at such a young age, we have so many girls that are just great volleyball players and all this coming together makes us better.”
She added the most adversity they faced was in the game against Vulcan, who they played against a couple of times before, and how they knew each other’s strengths, which in turn made for a great court battle.
Meanwhile, the junior A boys were defeated in the semi-finals and unfortunately lost in the third place game.