The 2014-15 volleyball season is here and Innisfail middle, junior and senior high schools have all started their practices.
With their first games and tournaments under their belts, the middle school gymnasium and the new Innisfail Jr./Sr. High School facility were busy with the sounds of volleyballs bouncing off the new hardwood floors and smashes and spikes echoing throughout the spacious interiors.
“Decide what you are going to do before you do it,” said coach Jeff Anderson, who is also the athletic director at Innisfail Jr./Sr. High, as one of his players missed passing a serve reception to the setter.
His Believe T-shirt echoes his personal philosophy of athletic pursuit: hard work, athleticism, unity and strength.
“As a team, we have to focus on being competitive every time we touch the ball,” said Anderson. “My players are capable of exceptional play and I expect it every time they get on the floor.”
Anderson added that both the junior varsity (JV) and senior squads are working with fewer returning players than usual.
“The senior team has eight Grade 10 players, one Grade 11 and one Grade 12 girl while the junior team has two Grade 11 and nine Grade 10 players,” said the athletic director. “Having said that, I am still coaching club volleyball and some of the girls are on both squads meaning that some will get two club and two school year seasons in. When they hit Grade 12 they will be amazing players.”
Both teams lost their first matches against H.J. Cody School, which were played in Sylvan Lake on Sept. 16.
“We have to turn our competitive edge on early in the matches and we can't allow a seven-point lead before we kick in,” said Anderson. “In our first tournament of the year held at Red Deer College we placed tenth out of 24 teams, which was amazing for our first outing.”
The JV Girls Volleyball team, coached by Deen Lockhat and two assistants, was practising in the other half of the new gymnasium and working on skills, drills and conditioning with three-on-six drills occupying the practice session.
“The JV team is continuing to build in skill level as well,” said Anderson. “With only a few games to date, our seasons are looking to be fabulous.”
Meanwhile, across the wall in the Innisfail Middle School gymnasium, more than 20 middle school girl volleyball players were working on their smashing, serving and setting skills as parents and coaches watched.
The senior girls team will be playing in a tournament at SAIT in Calgary on September 19 and 20 and coach Anderson is looking forward to improvement in their performance.
Information on the schedules for the JV and senior girls volleyball teams can be found at www.innisfailhigh.ca under athletics. Middle school schedules can be accessed at www.innisfailmiddle.ca.
