The W.H. Croxford Senior Varsity Girls Cavaliers are divisional champs after claiming an impressive victory over arch-rival the Cochrane Cobras on Nov. 8.
The Rocky View Schools division champs hoisted the banner after defeating the Cobras in straight matches (25-18,25-21, 25-20).
“We played quite well,” said Coach Jared Fuller in an interview with Airdrie City View this week. “It was one of our best games of the year.”
The Cavaliers placed second to the Cobras and struggled to beat them in the regular season, said Fuller, but he was thrilled his girls were able to put it all together at the right time during the championship game.
“We lost to them when we played league, and we thought we could have played better,” he said. “So the girls came in pretty focused and they didn’t see they were going to let anyone get in their way. It’s nice not to give up too many points where they weren’t earned on the other side.”
Fuller was especially impressed with the mental focus the team exhibited during the decisive game in front of a boisterous crowd in Cochrane on Nov. 8; thus overcoming the home team’s strong advantage in this respect.
“We were just playing our game,” he said. “Sometimes we overadjust or think, or care, too much. I think we just played a really relaxed, confident game … They didn’t make many mistakes, and that’s a hard thing to do in volleyball.”
Fuller said the achievement is even more impressive considering the large turnover the team experienced as seven players graduated this past year.
“It is a little bit of a new team in the sense that we have two grade 10s on there, some grade 11s, and then we had some grade 12s coming from other places to Airdrie. It was a new team, but they were so cohesive and they seemed to get along really well. It was just all smiles and fun all year … and they worked to solve any problem that came up.”
Now that the divisional banner is in hand, the Cavaliers will now turn toward their next great challenge at 4A Zones this weekend in Airdrie. W.H. Croxford High School is hosting the event.
If the Cavaliers can win Zones, or place second, they will be able to book their ticket to provincials on Nov. 23 to Nov. 25.
