The Warren Wildcats varsity girls’ volleyball team is playing its best volleyball at the right time of the season.
This week, the Wildcats had a perfect showing at the Zone V playoff tournament, going undefeated through eight sets and winning four matches.
Their win over the Fisher River Hawks in the championship game qualified them for the Provincial Qualifiers. It based on their recent surge in the provincial-wide rankings, the Wildcats have moved into fourth place provincially and will get to host one of the four qualifying tournaments next Saturday.
“We trained really hard through the season and we build for this tournament so the girls are extremely focused and ready to go,” said head coach Tyler Oliver. “We’ve won the last few banners so they are really focused on keeping that streak alive. When it comes time for the zone tournament, they were at their peak. They are playing well.”
Oliver has coached the varsity girls’ team at Warren for the last 11 years now and said this is one of the hardest-working teams he’s coached.
The team comprises an even mix of grade 11 and 12 girls who played varsity or junior varsity last season.
For the grade 12s on the team, this season has been a revenge tour after they lost the provincial championship last season.
He added that the girls are constantly training in the gym to improve every day and feel as confident as ever following the Zone V victory.
“They are driven athletes,” said Oliver. “Such competitors. In every sport they play. They are multi-sport athletes, and they have a fabulous work ethic. They come into the gym, work hard, work hard on the ice, it doesn’t matter what’s in front of them they are just a great group of kids. Every time they step up the court they are pushing themselves to get better. They are hitting their stride at the right time of the season.”
As the host of one of the provincial qualifiers, the Wildcats will also get the all-important home court advantage when they welcome the three other teams in their pool vying for a spot in provincials.
Between now and then the Wildcats get a much needed few days off for practice after competing in tournaments almost every weekend since mid-September.
Oliver said their focus now will be fine-tuning all the small areas of their game that could make a difference in close games.
Tribune Photos by Jo-Anne Procter
The Wildcats varsity boys volleyball team also dominated play at their Zone V championships last Tuesday.
Their perfect tournament started with two straight-set victories over the Fisher River Hawks and Teulon Saints in group play, which ranked them the highest heading into the playoff round.
In the playoffs it continued to be smooth sailing as the Wildcats defeated the Arborg Athletics in the semi-finals, then the Gimli Lakers in the finals in a dominant two set victory.
With the win, the Wildcats capped off an undefeated zone and punched their ticket to provincial qualifiers.
