Senior volleyball Huskies take best quarter-final option, Warriors edge Red Devils in five sets

Huron Park Huskies middle hitter Parker McLeod (left), flanked by libero Ryder Kaufman, passes the ball up during a TVRA Southeast quarter-final sweep of the Aylmer East Elgin Eagles. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

Woodstock Huron Park Huskies senior boys’ volleyball setter Gavin Jansen is fortunate to have a variety of offensive options to contemplate.

“It’s good we have depth on our whole line,” he said Thursday, Oct. 30, following a 25-16, 25-17, 25-12 Thames Valley Regional Athletics Southeast homecourt quarter-final victory over the Aylmer East Elgin Eagles. “Everyone on our team can hit and cover tips.

“It’s nice to rely on someone else if someone’s having an off day.”

“It’s all of us,” agreed teammate Trenton Thorndyke. “It’s all of us, good vibes all around.”

The one thing Jansen didn’t consider an option on the day was an early post-season exit, particularly following an undefeated TVRA Southeast season and healthy playoff aspirations.

“Our goal is to go to OFSAA (provincials) this year,” he said. “It’s my Grade 12 year, hopefully we can do it.”

“We definitely have the potential to do it if we work hard,” Thorndyke added.

Playoffs are what the team has been working towards this season, agreed coach Eryn Orr.

“We would love to continue playing, that’s for sure.”

Orr is also mindful of the fact that other quality teams are in the playoff pool, each with its own set of goals and aspirations. Riding out volleyball’s inevitable momentum swings is crucial as the postseason unfolds, along with emphasizing the importance of keeping one’s focus on the task immediately at hand.

“We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves,” she cautioned. “To me, every point is a new game.”

Orr's point was illustrated across town in a match taking considerably longer than the Huskies’ sweep. The Woodstock St. Mary’s Warriors took the first two sets of their quarterfinal against the Woodstock CI Red Devils and were at game point in the third, when a momentum reversal saw the match continue onward to a fifth and deciding set.

The Warriors’ Kingston McPherson opened with a pair of huge hits, helping get the Warriors off toward a hard-fought 25-23, 25-20, 24-26, 20-25, 15-11 win.

Red Devils setter Zack Molinaro was aware of the inherent moral victory but not buying entirely into its validity.

“The fact we came back and battled back in the last set… I mean we worked hard but just couldn’t close it out.”

St. Mary’s coach Valerie Popovich was also slightly skeptical of the suggestion their five-set match was better preparation than rolling over an opponent, carrying the knowledge the team could battle through adversity.

“Yeah, I guess…a little close for my appetite.”

The Warriors defence continues to be its strength, said Coach Pop, citing Travis Martens’ solid passing from the back line, Kiefer Hager’s two-way strength at the net, and McPherson’s emergence in two short years of volleyball.

“He’s a story in development.”

The Warriors are scheduled to open the TVRA Southeast semi-finals on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at Huron Park at high noon, taking on the host Huskies in what is anticipated to be a highly competitive match. Huron Park took a five-set victory during their regular-season meeting by scores of 25-23, 18-25, 25-11, 17-25 and 15-8. St. Thomas Central Elgin faces St. Thomas St. Joe’s in the other semi-final. The final is set for 4:30 p.m.

The St. Mary’s junior Warriors, undefeated through the TVRA Southeast regular season, cruised through their quarterfinals with a 25-15, 25-9, 25-15 victory over the Lord Dorchester Beavers. They are scheduled for a Wednesday, Nov. 5, semi-final at Huron Park against the St. Thomas Central Elgin Titans beginning at 9 a.m. WCI is set to face St. Thomas Parkside in the other semi, after a 26-14, 23-25, 25-23, 25-20 win over the IDCI Blue Bombers Thursday, Oct. 30.

The Blue Bombers advanced to this game with a 20-25, 25-12, 25-18, 25-19 victory over Tillsonburg Glendale at IDCI Tuesday, Oct. 28.

At that time, Katie Galic, who co-coaches with Jeff Harmer, pronounced herself pleased with the Bombers progress across the campaign. The IDCI juniors do have one club player on the roster.

“But most of them are just athletes learning how to play volleyball.”

That learning curve may present some annual concern, but typically, things do come into focus both season-to-season and throughout the Blue Bombers program.

“Every year they surprise us by mid-October,” Galic smiled. And in a phrase popular among students at the moment, even if one were to start 6 – 7, there’s hope for growth.

“Looking for a ten, not a 6 or 7.”

TVRA Southeast Senior Boys Volleyball Playoffs

Thursday, Oct. 30 - Quarterfinals

St. Thomas St. Joe’s 26, 14, 25, 25; Ingersoll DCI 24, 25, 21, 18

St. Mary’s 25, 25, 24, 20, 15; WCI 23, 20, 26, 25, 11

Huron Park 25, 25, 25; East Elgin 16, 17, 12

Preliminary Round

Ingersoll DCI 25, 25, 25; Woodstock College Avenue 17, 21, 23

Regular Season

Tuesday, Oct. 28

IDCI 25, 25, 25; College Ave. 17, 21, 23

Tuesday, Oct. 21

Huron Park 25, 25, 25; St. Thomas Parkside 21, 15, 14

St. Joe’s 25, 20, 24, 28, 15; St. Mary’s 23, 25, 26, 11

IDCI 18, 25, 22, 25, 15; East Elgin 25, 16, 25, 16, 10

Lord Dorchester 25, 25, 25; CASS 12, 20, 9

TVRA Southeast Junior Boys Volleyball Playoffs

Thursday, Oct. 30 - Quarterfinals

St. Mary’s 25, 25, 25 Lord Dorchester 15, 9, 15

Woodstock CI 25, 23, 25, 25; Ingersoll DCI 14, 25, 23, 20

Preliminary Round Tuesday, October 28

Ingersoll DCI 20, 25, 25, 25; Glendale 25, 12, 18, 19

St. Joe’s 25, 25, 19, 25; Huron Park 12, 16, 25, 14

Lord Dorchester 25, 19, 25, 12, 15; Woodstock College Avenue 20, 25, 13, 25, 7

Tuesday, Oct. 21

St. Mary’s 25, 22, 25, 25; St. Joe’s 17, 25, 20, 20

College Avenue 3, Dorchester 0

East Elgin 25, 22, 25, 25; Ingersoll DCI 18, 25, 17, 15