WHAM wraps up season at Provincials

Times Photo submitted

By Cole Parkinson
Taber Times

Taber WHAM was on the road this past weekend for the 18U Girls Provincials held in Red Deer. Looking at the round-robin, Taber WHAM was in Pool H with SAS Blue, FOG Marauders, and FM Thunder.

WHAM would lose to SAS Blue in round-robin play in three sets as it went 25-21, 20-25, and 16-14. They would also lose to FOG Marauders in two straight sets 25-14, 25-13, and FM Thunder in two straight 25-21, 25-11. With a fourth-place finish in the round-robin, WHAM would face off against the first-place Cougars from Calgary.

“In club volleyball, the most important games are the crossover Saturday night and the first game Sunday morning to get you to the top four. Saturday’s game put us up against the Cougars from Calgary who finished first out of 16 teams and we were sixteenth,” said Derry Kolody, coach. “We played them in the very first tournament in February and lost 25-9  and 25-13. This was the team I was hoping to get matched up with, I felt like my team had grown a lot in the past few months and was curious to see just how much.”

WHAM would wind up playing the spoiler as they had a huge upset in three sets — 29-27, 12-25, and 15-11. 

“We ended up slaying the proverbial giant in three games,” added Kolody.

After that huge game, WHAM lined up against Canada West the following day.

“Sunday morning matched us up against Canada West — which we also lost to in the first premier, 25-12 25-12 to send us down to Div 4. Sunday morning we started off winning the first game to only lose 15-13 in the third,” added Kolody.

Following that loss, WHAM would face off against BGV Black and lose in three sets 25-18, 10-25, and 14-16.

In the seventh-place game to wrap up the tournament, WHAM took on EKVC where they’d fall in two straight 24-26, 19-25. With the eighth-place finish, spirits were high for everyone and the coaches were particularly proud of how their team handled themselves all weekend.

“Our team was showered by compliments from referees, spectators, and coaches with regards to sportsmanship, attitude, grit, and how resilient the girls were. (We) started the year 52nd and ended the year at 24th out of 64 teams. What is also equally impressive is that the girls consisted of five U17 and five U18 in a division comprised of mostly all 18-year-olds,” added Kolody. “Our graduating players are Jewel Muller, Jae-Lynn Vayro, Makayla Schwartz, Ria Thacker, and Natalie Porter. (I’m) sad to lose these girls next year but best wishes to them as some are still looking into post-secondary opportunities.”