It’s a different team but the goal is still the same for last year’s silver medallists at the 3A provincial high school women’s volleyball championship.
“We want to go provincials again,” said Morgan Rigelhof, captain of the St. Albert Skyhawks. “We’ve been working really hard and trying to get focused as we go straight forward hopefully to provincials.”
Rigelholf is one of four Skyhawks back from last year’s heartbreaking 22-25, 25-14, 18-20 loss to the Eagle Butte Talons of Dunmore in the provincial gold-medal match at the Saville Community Sports Centre.
In the deciding set, the Skyhawks thought they won it at 15-13 but were called for being under the net.
“I go through that match every day. It was so fun and so intense,” Rigelholf said.
“It was so close. It sucked to lose,” chimed in Abby Schneider, a Grade 12 Libero.
Silver was still an impressive feat because nobody at St. Albert Catholic High School was able to confirm if the 2013 Skyhawks were the first women’s team to win a medal or ever to compete at volleyball provincials.
Last year’s team graduated six players and their head coach, Damon Clayton, stepped down after the successful provincial run.
The current 12-person roster features six Grade 11s, including three players from last year’s metro Edmonton division two junior championship team, plus three Grade 10s.
Longtime Skyhawks’ volleyball fixture Curtis Blair was also lured out of retirement to coach the team.
“We have four returning players and two of us are seniors so we just have a whole new group to play with it. It’s a good change from last year,” said Rigelhof, a five-foot-11 power.
As one of the few 3A teams in the metro division one standings the Skyhawks are tied for fifth at 4-3 with four matches remaining before the playoffs start Nov. 3.
“It’s coming together pretty good. We’re playing as a team and keeping a positive attitude on the floor,” Rigelhof said. “We could still do better. We’ve had a little lack in our focus but we’re working on it.
“We’re also trying to focus on communication because we’re lacking in that a little bit.”
So far the Skyhawks have demonstrated a willingness to battle hard in tight matches.
“We’re really consistent in getting ourselves out of lulls,” said Schneider, 17, noting last year’s Skyhawks allowed teams to rattle off lengthy point runs.
The Skyhawks are among the medal contenders at the 20th annual Lions Western Canadian Challenge tournament after winning bronze last year. The 24-team women’s draw wraps up today in St. Albert and Morinville.
“Winning this tournament would be a pretty good bonus,” Rigelhof said.
In pool play Thursday and Friday, the Skyhawks spiked the ball against the Edwin Parr Predators of Athabasca, Ponoka Broncs, Lloydminster Barons, R.F. Staples Thunderbirds of Westlock and Archbishop MacDonald Marauders.
In the tournament opener, the Skyhawks swept Edwin Parr 25-8, 25-11.
The top two teams in the four women’s pools qualified for the round of 16. The winners earn quarter-final berths and the losing teams drop down into the consolation side.
St. Albert High hosts the women’s semifinals at 5:30 p.m., the third-place match at 7 p.m. and the final at 8 p.m.
The consolation final is 7 p.m. at Vincent J. Maloney School.
Visit www.mchs.gsacrd.ab.ca for schedules and results.
It’s the fourth tournament of the year for the Skyhawks, winners of the fifth annual St. Francis Xavier BOOM. In the final they defeated the Edmonton Christian Lions, a 3-2 metro division two pool B team.
“It’s good to play a lot of games like this. It helps us practice our plays,” said Rigelhof, 17.
Monday the Skyhawks visit the Harry Ainlay Titans (4-3) at 4:45 p.m.
