The Olds High School senior girls volleyball team took third place with a 3-3 record at the annual Spartan Smash tournament held on Friday and Saturday at the Community Learning Campus.
The Spartans started the tournament on Friday night with a straight sets victory (25-7, 25-18) over Frank Maddock High School (Drayton Valley). They followed that up with a three set loss to Cochrane High School (25-19,11-25, 8-15) and a straight set loss to Brooks High School (15-25, 14-25). The Spartans also lost in a tight three-set match to their namesake from Rimbey High School (RHS), 25-15, 26-27 and 13-15.
The Spartans had better results in their final two matches of the tournament, beating West Central High School from Rocky Mountain House in straight sets (25-14, 25-10) and in the bronze medal match against RHS, 25-20, 25-13.
Shelley Sayers, co-coach of the Spartans, said the tournament was a good opportunity for all the players to learn how to gel as a team.
“I think it was a really good weekend. They had a good growing experience … and they played some tough teams, but they stepped up defensively and they probably played the best tournament as a team that they have all year,” she said.
Sayers said Kaitlyn Venneman and Amber Wright particularly showed leadership throughout the matches.
“Venneman has really been consistent throughout the year and really helped the team and our Grade 12 player Amber Wright … was really consistent, just did her thing and helped the team out,” she said.
"They had a good growing experience ... and they played some tough teams, but they stepped up defensively and they probably played the best tournament as a team that they have all year."Shelley Sayers, co-coach, OHS senior girls volleyball team
