INNISFAIL – Innisfail Cyclones senior girls volleyball team members are bronze medalists.
The team returned to the court this season after an absence last year and took third place at the Innisfail High School Senior Girls Volleyball Tournament, which featured teams from across Central Alberta. It was held at the local high school on Oct. 5.
“This is our first annual,” said Jennifer Leinweber, head coach. “This tournament allows the girls a place to play in a good tournament atmosphere.”
A total of 10 teams from across the region took part in the one-day tournament, including those from Caroline, Penhold, Bentley, Castor, Delburne, Didsbury, Red Deer and area, Bowden and Innisfail.
The Innisfail senior girls volleyball team consists of 11 players who began their season the first week of September as part of the regional 2A league, noted Leinweber.
The regular season wraps up at the end of October, with provincials in November.
“Some of the teams (we’re playing) are in our league but not all of them,” she said, noting the season so far.
"We just have one (junior girls) volleyball team, a Grade 9 team running with the Grade 8s in the middle school,” said Leinweber. “Our season’s going well. We’ve definitely had a bunch of success. It’s a new developing team,” she added, noting a small number of returning players.
“We didn’t actually run a senior girls team last year so it’s good for them to have an opportunity to play,” said Leinweber. “We’ve won a few and lost a few but they’ve definitely been developing and growing as a team and getting better every day.”
Some of the junior girls volleyball players moved up to the senior team (Grade 10 -12) this year, she noted.
“Some returning players (have some experience) but not at this higher level,” she said, adding the team practises three days a week. “There’s stronger players and more competition.
“We’re just working on consistency, good communication between players and passing,” said Leinweber. “They work really well together. They are a great group of girls, they’re really dedicated, they work really hard, they do what’s asked of them and they really try.”
Leinweber said parents and sponsors were a big part of the tournament’s success and thanked them for their support. She also noted the important role assistant coaches Brianne Fletcher, Laura Abraham and Bob Klatt played in both the tournament and the senior girls volleyball program throughout the season.
“I think the tournament’s going to be really great and we’re definitely going to try to run it every year,” said Leinweber. “We’re going to try to grow the program as much as we can and continue it on for years to come.”
