Toilers Fall Just Short In Haunting Spirits
Photos and Story by Robert Thomas
Halloween is one week away but the Peacock Toilers on three sets came close to instil at least a little bit of fear into the Vanier Spirits in city league high school senior girls volleyball on Tuesday evening.
The Spirits won the match 3 - 0 on set scores of 20 - 25, 24 - 26 and 20 - 25.
In all three sets both teams battled back and forth with the Toilers coming close to winning the second set.
VANIER SPIRITS KATE WALLENBERG RETURNS THE BALL - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO
For both the Toilers and the Spirits a lot was at stake.
The Toilers were on a roll after a convincing win the week prior over the Central Cyclones in round robin pool play and were hungry to knock off the top team in the Moose Jaw city league.
A Toilers win accompanied by a Vanier victory over the Central Cyclones was a perfect Halloween treat.
For the Spirits a lot was on the line as a win would take them one massive step in finishing first and being dealt an undefeated bye to await a challenger in the November 7th semi-finals.
For both teams the matchup is part of the tooth and nail rivalry both teams have had in various female high school sports.
Vanier Spirits Clare Seman spikes the ball - MJ Independent photo
“Peacock has improved greatly, significantly (over the season). I wasn’t surprised we’ve seen them a couple of time and they’ve just been constantly improving and improving,” Ally Bell Vanier Spirts head coach told MJ Independent in the post game interview.
Bell admitted the Spirits did not play up to their potential on Tuesday evening.
“We didn’t have the prettiest of games either so you know they’ve improved so much they came out hitting. They came out swinging. They came out blocking and we didn’t,” she said.
Vanier Spirits and Peacock Toilers players watch the ball balance on the top of the net - MJ Independent photo
Injury wise the Spirits were a healthy squad heading into Tuesday evening while the Toilers called up three junior volleyball players to bolster their injured ranks.
“We had one tonight who wasn’t injured…but she was considered injured. Otherwise everyone is healthy now,” Bell said.
Asked what she was looking forward to she said the Spirits were looking ahead to the playoffs.
Peacock Toilers Mattaya Coupland serves in the third set - MJ Independent photo
“We’re looking forward to our semi-final match against whoever we are going to play. And then our city finals. Last year we came in short, super short so hopefully we get there this year. And then provincials (HOOPLA) are here.”
Despite being forward thinking into the playoffs Bell, when asked about it, admitted there was also Thursday evening’s round robin matchup against the Central Cyclones.
The Cyclones have been practicing hard and are hungry for a win after a poor showing and three set loss against the Toilers last Tuesday evening.
Vanier Spirits Kensington Demassi lunges to keep a rally alive - MJ Independent photo
“Central has improved a lot too. You have to give them credit. They have improved just like Peacock. When we see them Thursday we’re sure it’s going to be a team we haven’t seen in the past,” Bell said, adding “just like the last time we played them they stepped up and came to fight.”
“We’re going to have to put up a good battle. We are going to have to refine things in practice tomorrow (Wednesday October 25th) and be ready for Thursday.”
Asked about her younger players and how they’ve been playing recently Bell said they’ve been standouts. Standouts on a team with a large number of grade 12 and club players on it.
“They’re great. Both of our setters are grade tens. They’re starting for us,” she said.
Madeline Cruz and Kensington Demassi are two grade ten students who have stepped up from playing with the junior girls volleyball team to the seniors ranks this year.
Clare Seman on right side is also another grade ten student to make the jump to playing senior volleyball this season.
“They’re young but they have a lot of club experience and playing experience in junior last year so they were coached really well in junior last year. This year they came ready and have not surprised us.”
Peacock Toilers Jillian Polupski gets ready to bump the ball - MJ Independent photo
For Peacock Toilers head coach Lorne Polupski calling up three grade ten students from the junior ranks to play with the senior girls team on Tuesday was an injury dictated necessity.
Despite the loss of a trio of regulars to injury the Toilers played solidly.
The three grade ten replacement players also weren’t simply bench sitters.
Grade ten student and Peacock Orange junior player Macy Kuntz was subbed in to serve in key situations and help wrack up some points for the Toilers.
“Never count out Lorne (Polupski) he knows his volleyball,” opposing coach - Peacock Toilers head coach Lorne Polupski gives his team instructions during a time out - MJ Independent photo
She was accompanied by fellow Peacock junior girls orange teammates grade ten students Paityon Dempster and Ellie Pablo in the injury driven call up.
“I had some injuries. I had three girls on the bench tonight her weren’t dressed so they were injured. One starter and a couple of girls who help out in their roles,” Polupski said explaining the three call ups from the Peacock Orange junior girls ranks.
As far as the match went the Toilers, despite the loss, played a good game in the Spirits home court.
“We played a really good team and that’s why they are number one in the city. They’re good and they’ve got lots of experience. We’re playing them better than we did last time and hopefully next time we’ll play them a lot better,” Polupski said about the loss.
Vanier Spirits Kensington Demassi bumps the ball - MJ Independent photo
Asked what the secret was for the Toilers to finally defeat a very tough Spirits team he said much of it was in the Toilers hands.
“Not making as many errors as we did tonight. We also brought three grade tens up. It’s no excuse they’ve got a really good team. I’m happy with played tonight. I think we did some great things,” he said.
Asked about the much improved performance by the Toilers against the Spirits he said the team was “moving in the right direction.”
“We had a great tournament last week, and we beat Vanier in the coin toss for bronze and I think we’re heading the right way.”
Vanier Spirits Kelsey Moran bumps the ball - mj independent photo
Rebuilding seems to be a common theme for last season’s city champions the Toilers, he said.
“We have a lot to learn. We’ve got new kids coming up from juniors. You know the systems that we run we need to learn and I think the girls are doing a great job right now,” Polupski told MJ Independent.
“We had some mental lapses out here but as I said every time we’re out here it gets better and better.”
Peacock Toilers Chantel Howe bumps the ball - MJ Independent photo
Pointing out the Toilers finish up the top pool with a 1 - 1 record in round robin he said “definitely we’re a lot better than the start of the year.”
“Don’t count us out ever. I think we proved that many years in a row,” Polupski said.
The win moves the Vanier Spirits to a 6 - 0 record.
Peacock moves to a 3 - 3 record.
At present the Central Cyclones sit at 3 - 2 but face Vanier on Thursday October 26th at Central Collegiate’s gym.
PEACOCK TOILERS JILLIAN POLUPSKI sets THE BALL - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO
Upcoming senior volleyball games scheduled for Thursday October 26th at 7 pm are for senior girls:
Vanier Spirits take on the Central Cyclones at 7 pm at Central Collegiate.
Briercrest Christian Academy Cougars take on the Cornerstone Christian School Falcons at Cornerstone
On the senior boys side on Thursday October 26 at 7 pm it’s an all out of town affair for Moose Jaw teams:
The Vanier Vikings face the tough spiking Avonlea team in Avonlea
The Cornerstone Christian School Falcons travel to Assiniboia where they take on the Rockets
All games involving out of town play may be cancelled for safety reasons due to the weather so check if the game is being held with the teams playing to ensure you don’t make the drive for not.
Other results from both senior girls and senior boys play from Tuesday evening was unavailable at time of publication.
