Senior Boys volleyball: Dragons defeat Panthers

Senior Dragons vs Crowsnest Panthers
Chris Davis, photos

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

St.Michael's JV and Senior Dragons hosted the Crowsnest Pass Panthers at the Dale Wentz Memorial Gymnasium on the evening of October 17. The volleyball season is just past the half-way point.

First up were the Senior teams.  The first set was very close, with the Dragons ultimately winning it 25-19.  In the second set, the two teams kept within a point or two of each other throughout, often tying, with the Panthers edging the Dragons 26-24. The third set was again neck and neck, until the Dragons began to pull ahead in the last third, with an edge due to solid serves and good blocking action at the net.  The Dragons took that one 25-20.  In the fourth set the Dragons set the pace, getting ahead and staying there, albeit marginally at times, to win it 25-21, taking the evening with a win in three of four sets.

As an outside observer, I was pleased to see two teams striving for supremacy in a fast paced well matched competition.  To me, the engaging moments far outweighed the sloppy moments and I was under the impression both teams were really going for it.

Apparently I was wrong.

"The Seniors could have played better," Dragons Coach Tony Bruder said afterwards.  "I'm going to give them a 60, and that's all."

"Why is that?" I asked.

"Because I've seen them play," he replied.  "They weren't there.  The heart, the drive, the spirit wasn't there tonight.  I've seen them when they're really up and playing hard and they weren't there." That sentiment was actually confirmed by a couple of Senior Dragons I talked to.

"If you had seen how well they played last Friday in Taber you would know what I mean."

It wasn't all bad news, according to Coach Bruder.  "With us beating them tonight in four sets... we are at minimum second place."  So far this season the Senior Dragons have only lost to Fort Macleod, in an away game played on October 15, in three straight with scores of 25-10, 25-20, and 25-17.  "We just didn't show up," Bruder said. He believes the Dragons have what it takes to beat Fort Macleod, provided they bring their A game.

JV Dragons vs Crowsnest Panthers

After the Senior Boys, the JV teams had their turn on the court.  With the JV Dragons being disqualified in advance for having too few eligible members, both teams played three solid sets for the sport of it.  With an extra edge due to having some fill-in Senior players, the Dragons were dominant, but the Panthers deserve some credit for being great sports, showing a lot of determination and heart throughout, and bringing up their game, particularly in the third set.  The JV Dragons took all three sets by scores of 25-12, 25-12, and 25-18.

"The JV's really came to play," Bruder said of the younger Dragons team.  "That's the best they've played all year, and I'm really happy with how well they did. They're coming together, and really starting to get some confidence."

Coming up:

• The Dragons go to Rally Point in Calgary this weekend for a tournament.
• Saturday, November 10: Post-Season for all Senior Girls and Boys will be held in Pincher Creek at St. Michael's and Matthew Halton Schools.
• November 16 and 17: The Dragons will be hosting Zones.

Video: Chris Davis, Whitney Holoboff, and Iris Wang