Wildcat guys struggle with depleted lineup in Kamloops; girls take sixth at Halloween Bash
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Myles Christman saga continues to affect the Mount Sentinel Wildcats both on and off the volleyball court.
The Cats, without starting setter Christman, finished 19th overall at the 24-team High School Boy’s Volleyball tourney Saturday in Kamloops.
“This was a good result given that we are still playing without our starting setter (Myles Christman) and we are down to six players, one Grade 12, four Grade 11 and one Grade 10 — all of whom are improving each time out against the competition,” said Mount Sentinel head coach Glen Campbell.
Christman was ruled ineligible by B.C. School Sports after he moved from Christina Lake to play volleyball at Mount Sentinel. The move was because his former school, Grand Forks, did not have a senior boy’s volleyball team.
The Cats posted a pair of straight set wins over Delta and Charles Best of Coquitlam before losing to Kimberley’s Selkirk Storm 2-1 in a “tough, evenly-matched contest”, according to Campbell.
The Cats then played well against fourth ranked AA George Elliott of Winfield and fourth-ranked AAA Earl Marriot of White Rock, losing each match in straight sets.
“The Earl Marriott was a competitive affair and we certainly did not look overmatched considering we are not at our best in terms of players available to us,” Campbell explained.
The loss of Christman forced Campbell to move Provincial Team power hitter Zach Grigg to setter.
The Cats once again take to the road this weekend for a tourney beginning Friday in Winfield.
Sentinel varsity girls take sixth at Halloween Bash
The Mount Sentinel Wildcats continue to prime for the post season as the squad finished sixth overall at the Halloween Bash Girl’s High School Volleyball Tournament Saturday in Penticton.
“This was a good weekend for us,” said Sentinel coach Joe Moreira. “We had an opportunity to play lots of volleyball against team we hadn’t seen or played before.”
The Cats met teams from the Okanagan as well as touring Maple Ridge Ramblers from the Fraser Valley.
“Our Grade 11’s are playing with a lot more confidence (against good teams) and are Grade 9’s are no longer playing like Grade 9’s,” Moreira explained.
The Cats return to action Friday in Kimberley at the Storm High School Girl’s Volleyball tournament.
The tourney includes Golden Eagles and Fernie Falcons, two teams in the running for the zone berth. Moreira said the only zone team missing is Elkford, which defeated Fernie last weekend at the Falcons tournament.
The tourney is a great tune up for the upcoming Kootenay zones November 18-19 in Fernie.
“We are not setting our sights on the Kootenay Finals and, of course, the provincials,” said Moreira.
“Unlike a few years ago the Kootenay Finals are now a serious competition for many teams.”
Last season for the first time in decades, Mount Sentinel did not send a team to the B.C. High School A Girl’s Volleyball Championships.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
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