Pandas host Dragons for JV and SR volleyball games

2013 JV and SR Pandas Volleyball teams
C. Davis photos and video

Chris Davis, Crowsnest Voice

The Crowsnest Pass JV and SR Pandas volleyball teams hosted their St. Michael's Dragons counterparts at the Crowsnest Consolidated High School (CCHS) gym on the evening of September 23.

The Dragons do not have enough eligible players for an eligible JV team, so the JV matches automatically defaulted to the Pandas. A disparity in experience was particularly noticeable during the three JV sets, with a mostly new JV Pandas team up against seasoned senior Dragons. That showed in the scores, with the Dragons winning the first set 25-13 and the second and third sets 25-17 each. While the defeats were not unexpected, the Pandas certainly put in a top-notch effort throughout.

The three Senior sets were again a bit lopsided, with veteran Dragons opposing a younger Pandas team. The Dragons dominated the first set, winning it 12-25. Something clicked for the Pandas in the second set, and the score was tied several times. 9-9, 18-18, 20-20, 21-21... The dragons persevered, winning it by a narrow 25-22 margin. The final set of the evening was a virtual repeat of the previous one, with the score again frequently tied. The Dragons won that one 25-21, completing their sweep of the evening.

Pandas Coach Rhonda Jackson told me about the team afterwards. "We have four seniors that are returning from last year, they would have been JV's last year. The remainder of our team, which would be another 9 girls, are Juniors, so grades 10 and 11."

"A lot of these girls, I really didn't know (prior to this season)," Jackson explained. "They were on the Junior teams, and are very new to us. There are only five that are returning."

"It's a growing, developing team."

The Pandas have had a busy beginning to their season. "We've played about 35 games, and that's just Seniors, not including JV games," said Jackson. For the Dragons the season has just begun, according to St. Michael's Athletic Director and Coach Tyler Speelman. "This is only their second game," he said. The Dragons are now 1 and 1, having lost their first game of the season to Claresholm.

Speelman is thrilled by this season's Dragons. "We're miles ahead of last year, already. It's awesome," he effused. He cited "team building, team dynamics, team chemistry and hitting the ball," as areas of major improvement over last year. "We've actually become a hitting team," he explained. "That second game, we had 17 attacks. We didn't have 17 attacks in a match last year, so this is great."

"I said to the girls 'We've got to build on this'."

"My girls are swinging like they should be. Last year was a huge building block, and this year already they're miles ahead. Setting and serves were really good tonight."

"We're really top heavy this year," Speelman said, explaining that the Dragons have nine grade 12's, one grade 11, and two grade 10's this season.

"We haven't been in any tournaments yet. Our first tournament is coming up at Kate Andrews (Coaldale). That will get us more experience, because everybody else is two tournaments ahead of us already."

"We do not have a boys team this season, there were only four guys interested. This is my seventh year and the first time we haven't had one. Its pretty sad."

Upcoming games:

The Dragons have a home game scheduled against Matthew Halton's Hawks on Wednesday evening, September 25, starting at 6:00 pm at the Dale Wentz Memorial Gymnasium at St. Michael's School in Pincher Creek.

The Pandas and the Panthers (CNP Boys) JV and SR teams will be hosting Lethbridge's Immanuel Christian teams on Monday evening September 30 at the CCHS gym, starting at 6:00 pm.