CANORA - “Despite recent injuries everyone has stepped up, showing remarkable adaptability and determination.”
Coach Hannah Maurer was justifiably pleased with the efforts of her Canora Composite School Cougars senior girls volleyball team members after finishing second at their home tournament on Oct. 26.
In spite of missing key players, the Cougars won six of eight sets during the round robin tournament against the other four teams entered: Churchbridge, Kamsack, Invermay 2, and Invermay, the eventual tournament champions.
“Overall, I'm incredibly proud of how the team performed,” said Maurer. “Our communication on the court was strong – a critical element of success in volleyball. And each player brought a positive attitude and impressive resilience. This combination made a real difference in our game and highlighted the team's commitment to supporting each other.”
The Cougars won both sets in the match versus Invermay 2. Canora came out flying in the first set, stretching their lead to 14-5 at one point. But the Invermay girls weren’t phased and outscored the host team for the remainder of the set, with Canora winning by a final score of 25-18.
Set two was very different right from the outset, with Invermay 2 jumping out to a 6-2 lead. The Cougars showed their competitive spirit and closed the gap to within one or two points on several occasions. Finally Canora evened the score at 24 apiece, and then earned the final two points to win the hard-fought set, 26-24.
It seemed the Cougars were playing nothing but tight sets, which was the case again in the Kamsack match. Canora earned a 12-5 early lead, but their Highway 5 rivals stormed back to tie the set at 21, and again at 22. The Cougars made the plays when it mattered most, and earned a tight 25-22 victor.
Set 2 was another close battle, including ties right from 8-8 up to 13-13. The set continued to be tight, but Kamsack pulled away late for a 25-19 win.
In the other two tournament matches for CCS, the Cougars defeated Churchbridge 25-15 and 25-16, and split a pair of sets with Invermay, winning the first by 25-20, and then taking a 25-16 defeat in the final set.
Coach Maurer said the team’s success in close matches can only serve to benefit the Cougars as the season continues.
“Playing close sets is fantastic for the team’s development. The experience of playing close sets can build confidence, as players learn to trust their abilities in those intense moments.”
As mentioned earlier, Invermay and CCS were the top two teams in the tournament. Kamsack finished a close third, followed by Invermay 2 and Churchbridge in that order.
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