The Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association tipped its cap to a Warren Wildcats volleyball star last week.
Left side hitter Torie Galbraith was named a Dairy Farmers of Manitoba Athlete of the Week on Oct. 29 for her standout play at the varsity girls’ level.
Warren Wildcats left side hitter Torie Galbraith was recognized as a Dairy Farmers of Manitoba Athlete of the Week on Oct. 29 for her outstanding performance at the varsity girls’ level
“Just being a leader on the court, she kind of quarterbacks a lot of the things we do offensively and defensively,” said Wildcats coach Tyler Oliver on Thursday. “She’s always talking to her teammates during timeouts and between games about what she sees. She reads the game exceptionally well, so she knows where to be defensively, she knows where to put the ball offensively, and she competes like not many, that’s for sure.”
A Grade 11 student, Galbraith has already emerged as a leader on and off the court. She’s also excelled in the classroom, maintaining a 92 per cent average while balancing a busy school and sports schedule.
Her performance at the Golden Bears Winter Blast Tournament in mid-October showcased her abilities, as she helped the Wildcats capture first place in the 10-team event.
She credits her success to the extra effort she put in over the summer in the gym and working with coaches to grow her skills.
“It just keeps making my job easier and easier when you have these types of athletes who work hard — and not just on the court during our two-hour practices, but over and above that,” said Oliver. “Torie does that. There are a few others on our team who do that as well, but Torie leads in that world of putting in all the extra time, and she’s seeing the benefits of it, for sure.”
Galbraith hopes to pursue volleyball beyond high school if the opportunity presents itself.
For now, she’s focused on helping her team achieve playoff success in November.
“The biggest goal would be to win provincials as a team,” said Galbraith. “Overall, I just want us to stay really close as a group. Right now we get along really well, and I hope that keeps going.”
The Wildcats will head into the Zone 5 Girls Playdown from Nov. 4-5 as one of the favourites, boasting home-court advantage and wins this season against Quad-A opponents.
The eight-team tournament at Warren Collegiate Institute will include the Wildcats alongside Lundar, Peguis, Lake St. Martin, Teulon, Fisher River, Ashern and Gimli.
