A trio of Stonewall Rams seniors have received province-wide recognition.
Grade 12 standouts Adria Vandersteen, Jordan Hudon and Rhea Myers starred on the Rams varsity girls’ volleyball team this fall, and all were named Volleyball Manitoba Graduating All-Stars at the A/AA/AAA level.
The All-Stars were selected by a committee and announced last week during an off-week for the Rams as they prepared for the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association Provincial AAA Girls’ Volleyball Championship.
“All these girls are fourth-year players at our school. All of them put a lot of extra time into their game outside of the school setting as well. They’re all successful club players,” said Rams coach Curtis Grieve.
The selections mean the trio will attend and compete in the A/AA/AAA Graduating All-Star Game and Banquet on Dec. 5 in Winnipeg.
Grieve said Vandersteen, the Rams’ middle, has become one of the province’s most dominant players.
“Adria to me is one of the top middle players in the entire province, and that’s at all levels,” he said. “She has basically all the shots you’d want out of a middle and the ability to put up a tremendous block. One of the other things Adria has made huge strides in is her ability to stay within herself during a match and not let the highs and lows get too big or too small. She’s played at a steady level where she doesn’t dwell on mistakes. She’s grown as a player that way and is dominant. When she’s on, she’s basically unstoppable from the middle.”
Hudon has also shown strong growth on the left side this season. Grieve described her as the team’s “calming factor.”
“The thing that makes Jordan so good at what she does is she thinks and understands the game quicker than most on the court,” he said. “She’s an amazing passer; she reads opposing hitters and moves to spaces where she can play outstanding defence. She’s the one girl on our team that, if we want somebody to pass serve, we’re hoping it’s served at her because her serve-receive and passing game is top of the charts in my mind.”
Myers, meanwhile, has served as the Rams’ go-to offensive threat on the right side.
“Rhea’s probably one of the most physical players on our team,” said Grieve. “She’s big, she’s strong, she’s explosive. She’s a game-changer when she’s on. She can shut down the opposition’s left side, but she also has the ability to score at will when her game’s really rolling. She is probably one of the more dynamic right sides at the A/AA/AAA level in the province.”
The trio are expected to play major roles at provincials, where the Rams enter as one of the deepest teams in the field.
They will compete from Thursday, Nov. 27 to Saturday, Nov. 29 against the Calvin Christian Eagles, Neelin Spartans, Linden Christian Wings, Churchill Bulldogs, Westgate Wings, Niverville Panthers and W.C. Miller Aces.
Schedules are still to be announced.
