The two Okotoks high schools are only a short drive apart from one another, but they may even be closer on the volleyball court.
The Holy Trinity Academy Knights downed the Foothills Falcons 3-2 (25-21, 24-26, 25-17, 12-25, 15-7) in a thriller in front of a rollicking crowd at HTA in senior girls high school volleyball action on Monday.
It was the first time in a while the Knights have downed the Falcons, who lost to Foothills in the league final last season.
“It was probably more than three years ago — this was a big win,” said Knights coach Melanie Glanville.
The Knights rebounded from a 25-12 loss in Game 4, as they were able to put that set behind them.
“I told the girls to go back to basics and to have fun — to play our game,” Glanville said. “When they are enjoying themselves they aren’t as nervous and focus on the simple parts of the game.”
Sure they were having fun, but so does a litter of puppies. It also takes some talent to win.
The Knights have a trio of big hitters in powers Jordyn Sealock, Kylee Glanville and middle Jada Wagner.
“Hitting is our strength for sure,” coach Glanville said.
Setting for the Knights is Jayden Klippenstein.
Sealock said the close-knit Knights were able to rally after the fourth-set loss.
“I think what rallied us is we just wanted it so badly,” Sealock said. “Not only for ourselves but for our coaches. That’s what really helped us to excel in the last set… In the fifth set, we just came together.”
The victory put the Knights alone at the top in the Foothills Athletic Council standings with a 4-0 record, The Falcons dropped to second at 3-1.
It’s a match the Falcons will learn from or the next time they play HTA – possibly in the league final.
“HTA is very good, but I take away that we have a lot of room to improve,” said Falcons coach Joanne Schoneck. “We were close and we were not playing very good ball tonight.
“I was happy to get to five sets.”
The Falcons were coming off a tournament title at Central Memorial High School on Saturday. Earlier in the week they had swept the banged up Strathcona-Tweedsmuir Spartans 3-0 at the Comp.
The Falcons are still getting to know everyone in the flock.
“I have some new blood in here,” Schoneck said. “It’s a matter of being able to gel and know one another… We have four girls who are new to FCHS.”
It was the first time playing against the Comp for Knights Grade 10 power Kylee Glanville.
“I was a little nervous but the whole team was out to win because we haven’t beat the Comp for a long time,” Kylee said.
The STS Spartans are sitting in third-place in the FAC with a 1-2 record.
Although they were swept by the Comp on Oct. 2, coach Andrea Weber was pleased how the banged up Spartans played.
STS was missing their tallest player Martha Valmana who was on the bench with an injury.
“Because we just had the injury (to Valmana) we had a whole new rotation tonight,” Weber said.
“Half an hour before the game, we were walking through new rotations. I move a power hitter into middle.
“To lose 25-23 in the third set, we came along way from that first set.
“We are recovering from watching a player go down with an injury.”
Spartans co-captain Sidney Evans said it is a whole different team than last year.
“It is definitely different because we lost six Grade 12 players,” said the Grade 11 student. “We started off tonight a bit rough, but by the end of the night we were playing them competitively.”
Weber is delighted with the squad so far.
“I love this team,” Weber said. “They gelled really quickly and they are extremely coachable. They get better every time they step on the court.”
In girls volleyball action tonight Holy Cross Collegiate is at HTA at 7 p.m. while STS hosts the Highwood Mustangs at 7 p.m. The Falcons will take on the Oilfields Drillers at the Comp.
