Junior spikers find win column

For two sets, Greg Ste. Croix was experiencing a depressing case of déja vu. Then his troops gave him something new to look at.
The Muskie junior boys’ volleyball team erased a 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 decision over the host Kenora Broncos in NorWOSSA action last Thursday for their first victory of the season.
Game scores were 23-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-16, and 15-6.
“It was a nice comeback,” a relieved Ste. Croix said about his team’s effort. “We had a number of missed serves in the first [set] and quite a bit more in the second.
“The third game, it got a lot better, and we got some good momentum.
“We were able to shut down their attack, even though we only had 10 players,” he added. “That led to us doing a lot more substituting, which gave us more size for longer in the front row.”
Coming through in the tight battle gave Ste. Croix guarded hope for the last four matches of the regular season.
“It’s a relief to get the first win under the belt, and especially to do it in five games to show we can win the close ones,” he remarked. “But we’ve still got a lot of work to do.”
< *c>Fast fade
Meanwhile, there was no happy ending for the Muskie senior boys last Thursday as another promising start turned into unfulfilled ambition in a 3-1 loss to the host Broncos that left Fort High with an 0-4 mark midway through the season.
Game scores were 20-25, 25-20, 25-22, and 25-19.
“We came out really good in the first, but came out flat at the start of the other three sets,” said assistant coach John Gibson. “Our defence and positioning was definitely improving throughout the game, though.
“But the intensity needs to come up,” stressed Gibson, who was filling in for regular head coach Adrian Chapman (work commitments).
There was some good news for the Muskies, who welcomed veterans Cullan McGinnis (back) and Kurtis Wepruk (shoulder) back from the injured list.
But the team still is without setter Ryan York, whom Gibson said was two weeks away from action after breaking his wrist. The Muskies also had veteran Dave Fagerdahl sidelined for Thursday’s match due to illness.
Both teams resume NorWOSSA action tomorrow in Dryden.