Kwahommies volleyball squad building strong team bonds

By Ryan McCracken on September 28, 2018.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken

The Hat High Kwahommies got an early chance to work on team building while facing off against some of western Canada’s hottest volleyball talent on a trip to Vancouver last week.

New Kwahommies coach Steve Russell says it was an unforgettable experience for players and staff alike, and it allowed everyone on the roster to build a stronger level of trust and camaraderie between teammates.

“We ended up playing teams that allowed us to focus on our practice. It allowed us not to worry about the outcome, more about the process,” Russell said of the trip, which included sightseeing and a Vancouver Canucks pre-season game. “These gals are a real special bunch. I think at the end of the day what it allowed them to do, especially the younger girls, the Grade 10’s and one of the Grade 11’s who’s new to the team, they were able to feel a little more comfortable and come out of their shells a bit.”

While the Kwahommies were held out of championship contention at the Vancouver tournament despite finishing the group stage at 2-1, they’re off to a hot start in local league action with wins over the Foremost Falcons and Brooks Buffalos —and all this while using a fourth-string setter.

Russell says the Kwahommies have leaned on Grade 11 Taya Karsten to fill the role of setter after two players suffered season-ending injuries, then another suffered a shoulder injury in the first game of the year.

“We’re into our fourth setter, and she’s working hard. We work every morning together, her and I, and she’s getting more consistent every day,” said Russell. “She’s got a high ceiling and at the end of the day she’s an athlete. She can get to the ball, work in some technical stuff and a lot of tactical decision making. She’s only going to get better for the next two months. Our middles too, I look forward to what comes two months from now.”

Karsten says it’s been a steep learning curve, but one made easier by the efforts of coaches Russell and Darren MacMillan.

“Getting moved into a new position this year he spends one-on-one time with me to work on my skills and get to the level I need to be at,” Karsten said of Russell. “It was a big learning curve for me, but he has so much to teach us. Especially with Darren MacMillan too, both the coaches together, we think our coaching staff is the best its ever been.”

Karsten is one of several returning Kwahommies who gained a wealth of experience while serving as hosts of the Alberta Schools Athletic Association 4A championships last year. Couple that knowledge with the team’s recent team-building experience in Vancouver, and Karsten says you’ve got a winning formula.

“It was a really good experience (in Vancouver), first of all for team bonding. We all got to know each other better and stuff, and even the games too, the volleyball was really good down there too,” she said. “I think the level of volleyball we experienced at provincials was the best volleyball we’ve all played in. We had one of our best games there. Winning a couple games in provincials was super exciting for all of us, so now we all reference back to that one game. That’s our goal again, to earn our way to provincials this year.”

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