Jaguars looking to pounce after slow season start

The Cochrane Jaguars U-17 Girls and U-18 Boys teams participated in the Alberta Volleyball Association (AVA) pre-season tournament Jan. 22 at the Volleydome in Calgary.

The U-17 Girls team beat the host team Calgary Canucks in straight sets for their third match of the tournament, but it was to be the teams only win on the day.

“Pre-season tournaments . . . are always a wait and see,” said coach Landon Thompson. “Everyone’s trying to learn their systems and get on the court as a team for the first time in a game situation.

The U-17 squad was the youngest in the tournament facing older, U-18 teams.

“We learned that we have a lot of stuff to work on,” Thompson said.

“We have to play up to our competitors.”

“I think we played really good,” said girls captain Brittney Hruska who attends Springbank High School.

Hruska added the tournament was a chance for the team to start bonding as a unit.

U-18 boys coach Candice Lee said the tournament was a chance for her team to see the caliber of teams in the AVA they’ll be up against.

“It was just really to see where they need to be as a team,” she said. “They have total potential to be a division one team, (they) just need to focus on their mental game in practice now.”

Lee added the team will have to work on their on-court transitioning, to piece together their offensive and defensive play.

The boys team finished the tournament without a win.

Next up for both squads is a return to the Volleydome for the 17/18 Boys and Girls Tournament Feb. 19.

For more information check out albertavolleyball.com.

By: Kelsey Hipkin, The Cochrane Eagle