The Edwin Parr Composite (EPC) senior boys Predators gave it their all through the zones tournament in Barrhead last Friday and Saturday, but fell one game short of winning it all.
“It’s OK. We’ll learn from it and move on,” said senior boys Predators head coach Chad LeMessurier of his team’s performance.
Upon finishing second, the senior boys received a wildcard berth at the three-day provincial tournament later this week, from Thursday through Saturday, which will host approximately 80 teams from around the province at the Saville Community Sports Centre in Edmonton.
The event will celebrate the 50th anniversary of high school volleyball in the province.
The Predators were undefeated for 23 out of 25 games going into zones, or a 91-per-cent record. After winning four out of five games in Barrhead, they still maintained a 90-per-cent winning average for their season as a whole and came out with a silver medal.
“Our offence has a couple of things that we need to work on, a couple little things we need to tweak,” said LeMessurier.
In the round robin and semi-finals, the Predators went undefeated. They beat Onoway in two straight sets, 25-10 and 25-16; R.F. Staples (Westlock) 25-20 and 25-22; and Hilltop (Whitecourt) 25-12 and 25-22.
Advancing to the semi-final round, the Predators beat Edson 25-20 and 25-18, and they moved on to the zone final.
“I thought we were pretty average this weekend. I think what affected us was we hadn’t played for two weekends, and we get practice and everything, but I think we were a little rusty, and it’s taken a little while to get that off, but all in all, I’m pretty happy with them,” said LeMessurier.
The Predators were matched up against the big Barrhead team in the zone final, and the Predators lost 25-23 and 25-11, securing silver.
“Their whole team is tall. They have a middle that’s 6’7,” they have boys that are 6’6,” 6’5” — they’re just monsters, and so I thought they played extremely well that whole match. We actually led the first set most of the way and just missed a couple of key serves at the end, and allowed them to beat us 25-23,” said LeMessurier.
LeMessurier said since the Predators had a strong zone this year, they were given the chance to advance to the provincials this coming weekend despite not winning zones.
“At this stage now, a big goal for us was to make provincials, and now, I think, the pressure is off and we can just feel free to go in there and just perform at our best without strings attached,” he said.
A few of the EPC senior girls Predators on the way back from their zones tournament in Drayton Valley stopped by Barrhead to cheer on the senior boys.
“It was awesome, and we actually had quite a few fans show up. It was great. We really appreciated it. It’s nice to see (the senior girls) stop by and make an effort to do that,” said LeMessurier.
The EPC senior girls Predators didn’t place well at their zones tournament in Drayton Valley last weekend, but their coach could not be happier with the effort they put in.
“We had a good weekend. We finished off well, anyway,” said coach Colleen Elgert.
The senior girls lost their first three games in the round robin and did not advance to the playoff round.
On Friday evening, they lost against Edson 25-6 and 26-10.
They were then matched up against Morinville, where they faced a big middle attacker, according to Elgert. Morinville won in two straight sets 25-10 and 25-13.
The Predators continued in round-robin play Saturday, matched up against a very tall Drayton Valley team that served “really well,” according to Elgert.
Although the Predators were eliminated after losing this final match 25-9 and 25-12, Elgert said her girls played “exceptionally well” and fought hard to the end.
“I would have to say that last match there was one of our most solid matches of the whole season. It was a nice one to finish on. And the girls reached a level of play where they were just relaxed, focused, in the zone, and they just flowed and reacted really well to the ball,” said Elgert. “I think they also were very pleased with how they played; although, again, we came up short.
“Overall, I thought they were positive. They shake things off pretty well and they regroup and they focus on the next match; they don’t hold it in a negative way for very long,” she said.
Although disappointed they did not advance farther, Elgert was humbled and satisfied her girls persevered.
“Everybody likes to be on the winning side, but overall this group — we haven’t had many wins this season, but they still remain positive and they’re good team players,” said Elgert.
“They still love the game, they still want to get better; they still want to improve.”
