The Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School Spartans found out early how far they need to go to win another provincial high school girls volleyball championship.
“We have had two silver medals and one gold in the past three years,” Spartans coach Michelle Bartoshyk said. “We played in a tournament in Didsbury this year and we finished second to Spirit River, who is our big rivals.
“We have some idea of what they are capable of. They are fantastic and we are looking forward to seeing them again.”
If they do meet again it will likely be at the 2A high school provincial tournament in Rimbey in late November.
Spirit River and Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (STS) have met in the last three provincial finals — STS winning gold in 2010 and having to settle for silver in 2009 and 2011.
The Spartans started the season by finishing ninth in a tournament at the University of Alberta against 32 of the strongest and biggest schools in Alberta.
“We only lost one game, but because of dropping one set to Bev Facey — which is a fantastic 4A school — we automatically dropped to second in our pool which meant the best we could do was finish ninth,” Bartoshyk said.
Although competing for provincial championships is nice, it’s not necessarily the measure of success for the Spartans.
“We define success, not just by winning games, but as trying our best and working together as a team every time we step on the court,” she said.
So far, the Spartans have lived up to Bartoshyk’s definition of success. She said the team has shown strong fundamental skills and is communicating well on and off the floor.
Veteran setter Kenzie Walker and captain Kate McFarland who plays power lead the Spartans.
“Kenzie is my little fireball out there who is a really strong server and always ready to go,” Bartoshyk said. “This is Kate’s third year. Her strength is she is a good all-around player but her passing sets the foundation of our team.”
She added McFarlane’s leadership provides a sense of calmness on the floor when things start to go awry.
Grade 10 power Victoria Romanow, from the DeWinton area, has seen plenty of time on the court in her first year of senior varsity volleyball.
“She is a left-handed outside player and she is already making a presence on the court,” Bartoshyk said.
The Spartans have proven to be a power in the local high school volleyball league, the Foothills Athletic Council (FAC), having won four of the last five titles.
They are not the defending champions, however.
STS was stunned last year in the FAC final when they were beaten by the Foothills Falcons.
The Spartans showed they are back by beating the Falcons in three straight games Oct. 9 a Foothills Composite High School in Okotoks.
However, Bartoshyk stressed it was far from a blowout as the Falcons kept the score close in all three games at 25-23, 25-23, 25-21.
“They played very well,” she said of Foothills.
The Spartans are undefeated in the FAC this year with a 5-0 record. They have lost only one set in the FAC season, which was to the Strathmore Spartans. Strathmore is second at 4-1.
STS will host the Strathmore Spartans on Oct. 23 in a battle of the two top teams. In other action on Oct. 23 the Foothills Falcons will take on their cross-town rivals the Holy Trinity Academy (HTA) Knights at HTA in Okotoks.
The Oilfields Drillers will play the Highwood Mustangs in High River. All games are at 7 p.m.
