Dragons Girls begin 2014 volleyball season with home court wins over Kainai

2014 JV and SV Dragons

2014 JV and SV Warriors
C. Davis photos and video

Chris Davis

The Dale Wentz Memorial Gymnasium at St. Michael's School in Pincher Creek was the site of the Westwinds Volleyball season opener for the JV and SV Dragons Girls and their Kainai Warriors counterparts on Monday night, September 8.  A new wrinkle this season, the Dragons'  long bench was the result of the amalgamation of six athletes from St. Michael's and nine from Matthew Halton High School into one team.  There's some talent new to Pincher Creek in the ranks as well.  The team is coached by Mrs. Holoboff, a familiar face, and by Mrs. MacDonald, who is new to the school.  Her day job - teaching grade 4.  Mrs. MacDonald was meeting some of the athletes under her charge for the first time Monday night.

Add those facts together, throw in a much shorter Kainai bench, and the fact that practice time has been very limited (school began a week ago), it could have been a wreck on the court.  As it turned out, both teams were there to play, and it made for some very close sets.  The Dragons won every set, JV and SV, but that stat doesn't reflect how close it was for most of the time.

JV game

First up were the JV (Junior Varsity) squads.  It was odd and entertaining at first to see girls who were on opposing teams last year working together as Dragons.  However, the team seems to be gelling quickly, and they were in the game from the first volleys.  The JV Dragons won all three sets by scores of 25-22, 25-21, and 25-22 again.  Remarkably close results.  The most entertaining set was the last one, which saw the two teams tied several times and a point apart for most of the rest of the time.  A solid first effort on both sides of the net.

SV Game

Three sets from the SV (Senior Varsity) teams followed, with very similar results to the JV contest.  The Dragons won each, again by small margins: 25-21, 25-22, and 25-18.  It was only in the last set that Kainai appeared to falter in their resolve, perhaps being more than a little tired after stretching a short bench over six sets.

In addition to a bigger bench, the Dragons had the edge when it came to successful serves, and in volleyball that often makes all the difference.  The Dragons also kept up the chatter, more so as the night progressed, and that too is an important fundamental for a successful team.

With these sets as a starting point, it's a good guess that this will be a better than average season for both the Dragons and the Warriors.

Kainai cheerleaders Maddie and Layla

A tip of the hat to Kainai cheerleaders Maddie and Layla.  They rocked it.

The 2014 Westwinds Volleyball League includes Coalhurst High School, Crowsnest Consolidated High School, FP Walshe High School. Immanuel Christian High School, JT Foster High School, Kainai High School, Livingstone High School, St. Michael's High School/Matthew Halton High School, Noble Central High School, and Willow Creek Composite High School.

On Wednesday September 10 Livingstone School's Boys JV and SV Sabres will be hosting their Dragons counterparts, starting at 6:00 pm, the first sets of the season for both.

Related link:
www.westwindsvolleyball.com