The Hunting Hills Lighting senior boys are facing a rebuild year, while the girls volleyball team wants to get back on top in the city.
The girls, who finished exhibition play at 1-2, placed third in the zone after going to the provincials two years ago.
“We want to make it to provincials so our expectations are to be top two in the city,” said Blake Mackay, girls head coach. “We have some uphill climbing to get to that point, but that’s our ultimate team goal,” said
With only five returning players, Mackay said he has his work cut out for him, but he has confidence in the team.
“We are probably one of the biggest teams I’ve seen. Our play at the net, our blocking and our hitting are definitely our strengths,” said MacKay.
No doubt there will be learning curves and lots of work throughout the year, said MacKay.
“Our weak points are our passing,” he said. “The first ball contact is not where it needs to be for us to succeed. We have a new girl playing libero who’s never played that position. That’s definitely something we are constantly working on.”
The boys team finished 0-3 in the preseason after dropping the final exhibition game to Lindsay Thurber.
Last year, the boys finished third in the zone.
Boys head coach Blake Henwood said he is keeping expectations low for the season.
“To be completely honest we’re a step below the other two schools in our city in terms of the amount of players and the overall experience,” he said. “I’m trying to teach them as much as I can and have them learn as much as possible as we go forward.”
The team only has two returning players this year, which causes problems when they face more experienced teams, said Henwood.
“We have a couple of athletes who are playing volleyball for the first time since Grade 7 and Grade 8. When you’re going up against teams like Notre Dame and Lindsay Thurber, who have guys who have been playing since elementary, it’s tough,” said Henwood.
Experience may be something they lack, but Henwood likes their competition level.
“They’re an awesome group of guys. They don’t have a lot of volleyball experience, but they’re incredibly coachable. They work hard and do what’s asked. It’s a lot easier to be a coach when athletes are willing to do what you are asking them to do without being resistant,” said Henwood.
Henwood is also an assistant coach with the men’s volleyball team at Red Deer College and said he hopes to bring that winning culture to Hunting Hills.
“We are trying to take the success of the college teams and have it trickle down into our high school program. We want to show our players that you can be a local athlete and move on to a post-secondary school and be successful,” said Henwood.
jonathan.guignard@www.reddeeradvocate.com