Testing legs, testing will
Men’s volleyball visits Saskatchewan for five games in tourney marathon
10/20/11
Rookie Jonathan Russo sets up the ball for his teammates. Photo by Jesse Matthews
They were tested mentally and physically. They emerged not unscathed, but with a better understanding of where they are, and where they want to be. The Heat men’s volleyball team played their first tourney with Canada West opponents the weekend of October 7-9 at the University of Regina.
The Heat opened the Friday afternoon, losing to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in straight sets (20-25, 17-25, 21-25). Then, with only a two-hour break in between matches, the Heat faced off against Mount Royal University, narrowly losing in five hard-fought sets (21-25, 24-26, 25-21, 25-15, 15-13).
Come Saturday, the Heat found their footing and bested the University of Manitoba in five hotly-contested sets (28-26, 23-25, 25-22, 24-26, 16-14) for their first and only win of the weekend. Later in the evening the Brandon Bobcats got the best of them, taking the matchup in four sets (25-19, 25-17, 25-11, 25-22).
Sunday morning the Heat faced off versus the host Cougars, who finished the Heat’s weekend after sweeping in straight sets (25-15, 25-19, 25-10).
The weekend was a lesson in endurance—both physical and mental—for the team. They played five matches in a span of 48 hours against top level CIS competition. In addition to the toughest schedule the team has had to face to date, the team was without 5th year setter and Captain Preston Tucker, and 3rd year outside hitter Greg Niemantsverdriet, both of whom are starters for the team. Tucker has been rehabbing a foot injury sustained early in the summer, while Greg has been rehabbing from recurring shoulder problems.
Heat coach Greg Poitras used the short-handedness to utilize several different players in order to allow them to experience the level and intensity of volleyball they are going to see this year. “The key for us was to focus on learning, and understand that there are some experienced teams out there that have been through season after season of Canada West volleyball,” said Poitras. “Our [plan for the weekend] was to look at different options and get guys on the floor.” Poitras gave his rookies ample opportunity over the weekend, and they did not disappoint. “Jonathan [Russo] has been put into a tough position as our starting setter in his freshmen year against the teams we are playing,” he pointed out. “The guys are learning as they go along and dealing with the many road bumps.”
“We have really challenged our guys physically and mentally, by design,” he went on to say. “We’re going to taper off now for a couple weeks, which should result in better performances as we approach opening weekend. Guys are in study mode now as we are also right in the middle of mid-terms. It will be very important evaluating how our players manage their time and take care of themselves during the these next few weeks.”
Don’t forget to check out both volleyball teams this upcoming opening weekend when they host the University of Manitoba at the UBC Okanagan gymnasium.
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