Women's Volleyball Huskies complete first exhibition weekend
Another new chapter began for the Keyano Huskies Women’s Volleyball team began in Lloydminster, Alta. over the weekend as the team returned to exhibition action.
Collecting a single win from their four-match weekend, Head Coach Tommy Sloan wasn’t worried about the team’s record and more so progression as they get ready to begin their new season.
“It was an important weekend,” Sloan said. “We got to look at things we wanted to look at. We learned a lot. We got everybody involved in at least one of the matches.
“We got a lot of our young rosters in on the second day against Olds; we were able to get a good win at the end.”
The Huskies opened the weekend with a four-set loss to the defending Canadia Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Champions from Lakeland College, followed up by a five-set loss to the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings.
“It was definitely a weekend where the focus remained on growing as a team, getting comfortable with each other, learning to play with each other,” Sloan said.
Saturday, the Huskies took on the Olds College of Agriculture & Technology Broncos, losing in four sets. Wrapping up their weekend against the Concordia of University Edmonton Thunder, the Huskies scored a four-set win.
In addition to mixing in his four liberos, Sloan was complimentary of his rookies and captain Karlene Kaminski for their on-court performance.
“It was her first weekend as our captain and she stepped up, performed really well, which we expect in a way from her, but it was nice to see her doing what she does,” Sloan said of the fourth year from Regina, Sask. “We had a whole bunch of first years do really great things.”
Though there’s little time for the Huskies to regroup, Sloan likes it that way to test his group ahead of the lengthy Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Regular Season.
“I like that we get to go right back at it, because it defined this weekend pretty clearly, defines next weekend clearly,” he said. “We’re looking next week now, if this weekend was about the process and getting to know each other and whatnot, next weekend we get to start refining and fine tuning closer to what we’re going to look like in the regular season.
“This weekend gave us some information for what we can be. Next week we go out there and try to see if those ideas stick.”
The Huskies head down to Red Deer, Alta. to take on four opponents this weekend. Saturday, the Huskies will face PACWEST school Columbia Bible College and renew acquaintances with the SAIT Trojans. Sunday, the Huskies will take on the host Red Deer Polytechnic Queens before facing the Ambrose University Lions.