Cyclones Defeat Cougars In Glass Slipper Match
By Robert Thomas
Whether or not they were aware of it there was lots of anticipation about the final result in the match between the third seed Central Cyclones (CCI) and the sixth seed Briercrest Christian Academy Cougars (BCA).
Not really anticipation as such but rather a question could the Cougars - who only had one win by a default all season - somehow become David and defeat Goliath or the Cyclones in Moose Jaw high school volleyball Senior Girls city league quarterfinal action on Thursday evening?
It’s a question that couldn’t be answered by those who follow the league in the run up to the match.
BCA, made up of largely grade 10 students, had the talent and season results to become the Cinderella story for 2023.
It had taken the Cyclones five sets in their two regular season matches to blow by the Cougars. The league leading Vanier. Spirits needed five sets to defeat the Cougars on Vanier’s home turf.
Thursday evening’s game brought out the head coaches of both the Vanier Spirits and Peacock Toilers - with several of their marquee players - as the word is in the local volleyball land even they didn’t know.
It should be noted at the time of the Cyclones versus Cougars matchup the senior boys Vanier Vikings and Peacock Toilers were playing their quarterfinal match and by convention the players and coaches should have been there.
Central Cyclones Keira Cushway rushes to a corner and manages to keep the ball in play - mj independent photo
The Cougars would get the early pounce and lead in each set until the Cyclones breeze set in. A breeze and not a strong win the team’s regular season results anticipated.
The second set was almost all Cougars as the Cyclones bench worked feverishly to calm their players and forget the loss of a single point and instead look at the big picture and the game ahead.
The potential was truly there for glass slipper to be worn by the Cougars at the end of the evening.
But the Cinderella story will not be happening this year as the Cyclones defeated the Cougars with a score of 3 - 1.
The set scores were:
Cyclones - 25 Cougars - 15
Cyclones - 19 Cougars - 25
Cyclones - 25 Cougars - 18
Cyclones - 25 Cougars - 20
The Cougars are eliminated from the playoffs and the Cyclones go on to face coach Lorne Polupski’s Peacock Toilers next week.
Briercrest Christian Academy Cougars Kaybrie stretches to hump the ball and keep a rally going - mj independent photo
I’m very impressed in how our team came out and played,” Central Cyclones head coach Joe Gunnis said in the post game interview.
“We set some goals at practice and worked hard to prepare for the game. Really we executed for the most part so I’m really happy with the play of the girls.”
Asked if he was surprised by the Cougars strong play and how they jumped out ahead and all sets Gunnis said “I’m not surprised at all.”
Gunnis said the Cyclones took the Cougars seriously.
Briercrest Christian Academy CougarS taryn drops down to dig for a ball - mj independent photo
“Briercrest has continued to improve they’ve got some great athletes and great players. And they are well coached. We knew it was going to be a battle and it wouldn’t just be oh, here’s the win so (it’s all yours).”
Asked about the true size of the female student body and how will they played Gunnis said “we were not surprised at all.”
“They’ve got great coaching. They’ve got great athletes and they continued to improve all year. We’ve seen that in our tournament that happened this last weekend too. We expected them to give us a huge bottle and they did.”
Although playing out of a 3A school (student body size) the Cougars female teams in actuality draw from a 2A sized pool of female players due to the large numbers of male students involved in the Prairie Hockey Academy.
Briercrest Christian Academy Cougars charis goes airborne to make a spike. Somethings she did momore than once during the match - mj independent photo
Gunnis said the Cyclones were victorious because they were prepped and ready for the game.
“Our girls were focussed and ready to go. Truthfully we were after every play. So no matter what happened and if we needed to dig a ball, we found a way to do it.”
It was not uncommon to see rallies between both sides go to 15 or more touches by players as both sides played strong aggressive games.
“That was the biggest thing. We found the will and the way you do things out there. And that was important piece.”
About the numerous long rallies it was something Gunnis said he expected.
“I really did because teams can dig and both teams can hit. And so you’re going to get lots of digs. You’re going to get lots of free balls back-and-forth. All of that stuff when both teams are playing really good defence.”
Central cyclones chioe Giraudier makes one of her deadly and accurate power serves - mj independent photo
Asked about one rally that took 20 hits for the Cyclones to record a point Gunnis said “kudos to them. They’ve pushed us as hard as anybody has all year.”
“Our girls trip to the play tonight and executed our game plan which was great. Briercrest did not disappoint. They came with the type of game game we knew they would.”
Asked if he worried mentally the Cyclones may have taken the Cougars to lightly Gunnis said that was part of the teams preparation.
“As I tell everyone, you have to take the record out of it where people finish. As everybody’s working hard in the gym every day and they are improving. All the teams are,” he said, adding “ so it doesn’t matter where somebody finishes you have to go out, set a game, plan and execute on your side of the net.”
Central Cyclones Adison Simpson has to dive to bump this return by the Cougars to keep the rally alive - mj independent photo
For Briercrest Christian Academy Cougars head coach Kayla Jacobs the loss may been tough, but the same time she was very proud of how her team played.
“We have a really competitive team. We like to play a competitive game,” Jacobs said.
“No I’m not disappointed in them at all. They played a great game. They stuck it out. They just kept working really hard and kept working as a team. I’m really proud with what they did,” she said.
Overall season wise the Cougars seemingly achieved their main goals.
Despite the loss the Cougars accomplished their goals in the Moose Jaw city league. Goals which included to gel as a team, be competitive, love of the game as well as have fun doing so.
“I think we did achieve it. Just having a good culture around the game as a team is really important to me. So I think we definitely achieve that.”
Central Cyclones assistant coach Corey Nyhagen (left) gives instructions to Adison Simpson during a timeout- mj independent photo
Despite only the one victory - due to the Notre Dame Hounds forfeiting a game - the Cougars were a surprise this season having taken the number one senior girls volleyball team, the Vanier Spirits, to a five set tiebreaker.
Additionally, when facing the Central Cyclones, and they took a league leader into not one but two 5 set tiebreaker matches.
On the weekend tournament circuit the Cougars so far have not been crowned a tournament champion, but they have won matches.
This weekend the Cougars enter 3A provincial competition where there’s anticipation they could have large success.
“I feel like we’re peaking at a really good time and we’re working really well together. And I feel good about that heading into this weekend,” Jacobs said.
Asked if she had anything to add given the Cougars impact they had against teams, sporting many club players, or grade 12s she said she didn’t.
“We were just here for the love of the game and the glory of God. We just keep working together as a team and having lots of fun so that’s what we’re here for,” she said.
The cyclones dig to keep the rally alive - mj independent photo
In other quarter final playoff action:
Senior Girls
The Cornerstone Christian School Falcons defeated the Notre Dame Hounds 3 - 0.
Falcons 25 - Hounds 16
Falcons 25 - Hounds 12
Falcons 25 - Hounds 11
The Falcons advance to play the Vanier Spirits in semifinal action.
Senior Boys
The Cornerstone Christian School Falcons defeated Avonlea 3 - 0.
Falcons 25 - Avonlea 16
Falcons 25 - Avonlea 9
Falcons 25 - Avonlea 19
The Vanier Vikings defeated the Peacock Toilers defeated the 3 - 0.
Vikings 25 - Toilers 16
Vikings 25 - Toilers 12
Vanier 25 - Toilers 17
