Women's Volleyball Huskies eye continued development ahead of second exhibition weekend
The Keyano Huskies Women’s Volleyball team battled to a 3-2 record in their first preseason weekend, showing growth at the right stage of the season.
“It was really nice,” noted Head Coach Tommy Sloan. “We got five games, which was nice and some variability in the competition and we were able to see every one of our players and see what they could bring.”
After a 3-0 loss to the Lakeland Rustlers, the Huskies won games against a pair of Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) opponents in the Ambrose Lions and Briercrest Clippers. They also managed to split a pair of Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC) opponents.
Though the games mean nothing the official standings – that journey begins October 24-25 in Grande Prairie – the weekend was used as an opportunity for players to see their own growth according to Sloan.
“It was different than last year where we were learning a lot of new players and what we had,” he continued. “This year was a chance for some of those players who were in their second and third years now to see the progress that they’ve made over the last year.
“I think we’re a little further along the process this year.”
While the team will return with several of last year’s standouts and starters like Saige Kehoe, Erika Box, Taya McCarthy, Milan Schapowal, Amanda Onyeukwu, and Drew Jacobson, the added experience of the bench players who are another year deeper into their respective Huskies journey gives Sloan more to work with.
“The first [weekend] is still trying out a lot of things,” Sloan said. “We will fine tune a little more for the regular season at our next preseason tournament.
“[The players] were itching to play some volleyball and be competitive for a weekend.”
The Huskies are on the road in Red Deer, Alta. this coming weekend for exhibition action, which will include games against Ambrose and Olds from the ACAC as well as sides from the MCAC and PACWEST conference.