Huskies overcome Wolves pack with Elias power

Huron Park’s Olivia Elias (left) gets to the ball for a first pass, with teammate Jorja Mayes in close proximity. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

The question was, ‘Does Olivia Elias enjoy pounding a volleyball more from the service line, at the net, or on backcourt sets?’

And the answer would be ‘yes.’

“I like all three,” smiled the Woodstock Huron Park senior girls volleyball Huskie standout Dec. 10 following a 20-25, 25-17, 25-17, 25-15, 15-12 match win over the visiting E.S. Notre Dame Wolves. “The feel of a good kill is so good.”

The Wolves started the match strongly, taking the first set by a five-point margin.

“I think we covered pretty well and didn’t make many mistakes,” said Notre Dame’s Avery Hahn.

“I think we’ve improved a lot,” added teammate Isabelle Baillargeon, who has a distinctive serving ritual: one hit, three bounces and a slap to the ball, almost as if warning it to behave, which she admits sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t.

“It doesn’t always. I’m a little too strong, sometimes it goes out.”

The match turned in the second set, however, due in part to balanced physical and psychological adjustments among the Huskie ranks.

“We told them to smile, and it kind of worked in a cheesy sort of way,” smiled Huron Park coach Jess Devine.

The Huskies brain trust also encouraged a ‘little more tenacity’ on the defensive side along with greater variance in setting the offensive table.

“We asked our setter to change it up and add some variety.”

The strategy, along with a varied power game from Elias and others, helped turn the tide toward a 3-1 match victory. She certainly had help from Huskies teammates who proved a little more consistent, a little more diversified on the day than their opponents. But the fact Elias plays OVA (Ontario Volleyball Association) out of Kitchener was apparent from her left side (power) position at the end, an ability to attack with backcourt sets, and also a strong jump serve, with which she served out the last several points for both the second and third sets.

“They played a good first set, we had to make some adjustments and got the win,” summed up Elias.

“I think we had more energy after the first set,” added Huskie libero Bella Tribble, who credits Elias for more than her volleyball skills.

“Super motivating too, she doesn’t get down.”

The result squares Huron Park’s TVRA South East regular season record at 1-1, balancing off an opening loss to Aylmer East Elgin, preparatory to a match against the powerhouse Ingersoll DCI Blue Bombers the following day.

“Hopefully we can do our best and learn from it,” said Devine.

The outcome was also encouraging for Notre Dame, looking ahead to a match against St. Thomas Arthur Voaden.

“It’s always encouraging to win a set,” said coach Chloe Hallee. “They played well.”

“I think we’ve improved a lot,” agreed Baillargeon. “We played very well. Proud of everybody.”

TVRA South East Senior Girls’ Volleyball

Dec. 12

Huron Park 25, 23, 25, 9, 15; Ingersoll DCI 22, 25, 18, 25, 10

Lord Dorchester 25, 25, 25; Notre Dame 17, 23, 11

Woodstock CI 25, 25, 25; St. Thomas Arthur Voaden 7, 4, 7

St. Thomas St. Joe’s 25, 25, 25; Woodstock College Avenue 13, 19, 13

Woodstock St. Mary’s CHS vs. Tillsonburg Glendale

Dec. 11

Notre Dame 25, 25, 25; Arthur Voaden 7, 16, 15

Dec. 10

Woodstock CI 23, 25, 25, 25; St. Thomas Central Elgin 25, 20, 17, 11

Tillsonburg Glendale 25, 22, 17, 25, 15; Woodstock College Avenue 12, 25, 25, 10, 9

St. Thomas Parkside 25, 25, 25; Ingersoll DCI 21, 19, 20

Aylmer East Elgin 25, 17, 25, 25; Woodstock St. Mary’s CHS 7, 25, 13, 13

Dec. 9

Woodstock College Avenue 22, 25, 25, 25; Woodstock St. Mary’s CHS 25, 19, 9, 22

TVRA South East Junior Girls Volleyball

Dec. 12

St. Joe’s 25, 25, 25; College Avenue 12, 20, 8

Ingersoll DCI vs. Woodstock Huron Park

St. Mary’s vs. Glendale

Dec. 10

Woodstock CI 25, 25, 25, 26, 15; St. Thomas Central Elgin 12, 11, 11, 24, 6

Woodstock College Avenue 25, 26, 25; Tillsonburg Glendale 21, 24, 15

Woodstock St. Mary’s CHS 17, 20, 25, 25, 15; Aylmer East Elgin 25, 25, 21, 19, 17

St. Thomas Parkside 25, 25, 25; Ingersoll DCI 21, 23, 21

Dec. 9

College Avenue 25, 25, 21, 25; St. Mary’s 20, 17, 25, 16

Lord Dorchester 25, 18, 25, 25; Huron Park 27, 25, 17, 14

St. Thomas St. Joe’s 25, 25, 25; Ingersoll DCI 20, 23, 20

Parkside 25, 25, 25; Woodstock CI 18, 13, 23