With a roster boasting only five returning players from last year, the R.F. Staples’ senior girls volleyball team claimed the consolation title in its first tournament action of 2014.
Competing at the 2014 Gryphon Invitational in Barrhead on Sept. 5-6, the Thunderbirds posted a 4-2 record in their six matches to claim fifth place out of 16 teams.
Based on what she has seen in the team’s two practices and in Barrhead, assistant coach Glenda McNeilly said this year’s edition could post some really strong results.
“I think we can be in the (zone) finals again,” she said. “We have a strong team. You can count on us to be there.”
Of the 12 players on the roster, seven are new to the team, but you wouldn’t know it from watching them play, McNeilly said.
“They play like they’ve been playing together before and not like a mishmash,” she said.
There were a few hiccups along the way, however, such as the team’s first playoff match against St. Paul. In that game, it felt like the girls had just been thrown together even though they had played three matches the day before.
But they started to gel once they started talking to each other on the court, which made a big difference, McNeilly said.
The T-Birds opened the tournament with a 25-9, 25-19 win over the Barrhead junior team.
Game two was a 23-25, 25-27 loss to Bellerose, but the girls rebounded to beat Hilltop 25-15, 25-20 to take second place in their pool.
In their first playoff game, the girls dropped a straight-sets decision to St. Paul, but were able to bounce back with a two-set win over Beaverlodge to advance to the consolation final.
The consolation final was a clinic of strong play and a few good bounces as the girls rolled to a 25-15, 25-8 victory over Louis St. Laurent from Edmonton.
McNeilly said what she saw over the weekend, when improved upon in upcoming practices, shows the team is in good shape.
“This is a great team,” she said. “This is a great set of girls.”
Up next for the T-Birds is a trip to Edmonton for a tournament at the Saville Centre on Sept. 12-13.
