CANORA - The season is off to a strong start for the Canora Composite School Cougars junior girls volleyball team, and that roll continued against the visiting Norquay Knights on Sept. 25.
The Cougars posted a convincing win in four straight sets by scores of 25-5, 25-12, 25-7 and 25-9. Cougars Coach Alexandria Martin said the Cougars “played very well.”
In the first set, the two teams battled back and forth to a 3-3 tie in early action. The Cougars then found another gear, taking 22 of the next 24 points to wrap up the set.
The second set started similar to the first, with the points going back and forth until the two teams were tied at 6. The Cougars took a slim lead at 12-11, but then only gave up a single point for the remainder of the set.
In the third set, the Cougars led by a slim margin of 5-3 early, but then once again took over in the latter stages for a third straight win.
In the fourth and final set, the Cougars got off to a quick start, building an 8-0 lead. The Knights refused to go away quietly, playing Canora relatively even in the middle portion of the set, leading to a score of 19-8. For the fourth set in a row, the Cougars dominated late for a fourth straight win.
Martin said she’s “beyond thrilled” to coach junior girls volleyball at CCS this season.
“I'm eager to help enhance their skills and see them apply those improvements on the court,” she said. “I think my team played very well against Norquay. There are definitely still skills to be developed and positioning to be worked on. There are always kinks to work out in the beginning of the year. However, I think we are looking to be a strong team and we are hoping to make it far this year.”
Serving was one of the main advantages for the Cougars against Norquay.
“We have some very strong servers,” Martin said. “The girls have been working very hard to develop their overhand serves. Believe it or not, a majority of them learned to serve overhand just last season, so they have come a very long way. Our serves are what got us lots of our points against Norquay.”
After seeing the team play and do well in three matches plus a tournament so far this season, Martin said she is looking forward to helping her players make further improvements in several areas, “hitting coverage and work at the net, including blocking, and making strong attackers.”
Martin has previously coached club volleyball, and said she genuinely enjoys watching young athletes grow and develop to their potential.
“Coaching volleyball is one of the greatest experiences so far in my life. As a coach, I enjoy being able to transfer my knowledge and excitement about the game of volleyball to young people. I enjoy the thrill of being on the sidelines as the coach and getting an accelerated heartbeat and shaky hands when the games are close. I love being able to watch the skills I have taught the girls transfer into real game play. The thrill and excitement of the girls after a good play or a good win adds additional proudness to my heart as their coach.
“The one aspect that makes it easier as a coach is girls that are coachable and have the same excitement as I do for the game of volleyball, and that is what this team has. They are constantly practicing on their own time and asking questions to try and improve their skills and their knowledge of the game.”
CCS junior girls volleyball team members are: Claire Ruf, Angel Sliva, Rori Love, Kenzee Kopelchuk, Kirsten Snoeij, Maddy Dutchak, Isabelle Chabun, Cassidy Wolkowski, Aubrie Monette, Stevie Effa and Tobbi Effa.
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