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Ponoka Broncs volleyball gradually progressing

Both girls volleyball clubs getting better as the season moves forward
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The one key word for Broncs volleyball this season is improvement.

Both the junior varsity and senior girls teams fell to Wetaskiwin when they hosted the Sabres on Oct. 5, the seniors losing by scores of 17-25, 25-18, 12-25, 18-25 while the junior varsity squad lost in straight sets 13-25, 21-25, 17-25.

Senior girls head coach Ron Labrie explained the team has gotten better in the last few weeks, to the point where they made the final in a recent tournament in Beaumont.

“We have definitely improved. Our communication is better and our defense is still solid,” he said.

“In fact, we lost in the third and deciding set in the finals at the Philip Oh Memorial in Beaumont (Sept. 29 and 30). Our biggest challenge is to get more aggressive on attack and minimize our attacking errors inside the three metre line.”

And though it’s early, Labrie expects his team to be in the mix for a shot at making provincials from this zone.

“Based on early results, we will likely finish in the middle of the pack. I am not sure if there is any team that is totally dominant in our zone,” he stated.

“That being said, the team who peaks at the right time will be heading to Sylvan Lake for 3A girls provincials. At this point, I think most coaches in the zone have concluded there are three or four teams that can win, and that includes us.

Junior varsity

As for the jv squad, working on skills for the mostly Grade 10 lineup is what coach Liane Amdam is focusing on, noting the girls are learning an entirely new system so there is going to be a time of adjustment.

“The goal will be to develop and perform to that system,” stated Amdam, who has been coaching for more than two decades.

“We have shown improvement since the start of the season, even though the scores have not been in our favour.”

With a couple more tournaments slated before the season comes to an end, she is hopeful the club will have some victories between now and then.

Kill shots — Both teams are set to continue with league play at the new St. Joseph High School in Red Deer Oct. 12, followed by the senior Broncs taking part in a tournament that weekend at the same school. Both teams then head to Rocky Mountain House on Oct. 17. The next home date is against Stettler on Oct. 19.