It was the great start to the season the Boyle Huskies senior girls volleyball team was looking for.
The girls came close, but fell just short in losing the final in a three-set thriller to the host team from Thorhild last Saturday.
Head coach Huyana Turner was impressed with her relatively young squad, whose only other loss in the one-day five-team event was also to the host club.
“The final was fairly even with us winning the first set, Thorhild taking the second, and then the third was really close as well,” said Turner.
“Our hitting went away from us a bit in the final. Instead of taking some good swings like we did in the round robin, the girls started to play it a bit more safe in the second and third sets.”
The tournament was the first action for the team and Turner thought they gelled very quickly, having limited practices together.
“Some of them played together a few years ago, so it’s not that surprising,” she said.
“The more experienced girls showed some good leadership. They get along well, are very supportive of each other and also a very positive group.”
In the round robin, the girls earned victories over Thorhild’s junior varsity team, Redwater and Covenant Canadian Reformed School (CCRS) from Neerlandia.
Boys on home court
The Huskies senior boys volleyball squad were close to not even seeing the court, but managed to find enough bodies last week to put a squad together in time to open their season at home on Saturday.
With a team of eight, the Huskies did get one match win in the six-team tournament. They defeated Ryley in straight sets, but lost the others to Thorhild, CCRS and RF Staples and St. Mary, both from Westlock.
Assistant coach Darrell Bergmann said it was bit of baptism by fire, since they have three rookies, two of which had to start each game.
“Our goal right now is to improve each game, and the boys did that,” he said.
“They never quit and the effort and attitude are there.”
Both the boys and girls teams are of to Bonnyville for a tournament this weekend.
