Expectations are high this year for the Muskie senior boys’ volleyball team, who will get a first taste of action at the Super 8 Volleyball Classic in Kenora this weekend.
The 10-team tournament, which gets underway Friday and wraps up Saturday, will be a good opportunity for the coaches to gauge what the team will need to work on prior to their NorWOSSA opener next Thursday (Sept. 23) in Dryden.
“This is the first practice that we’ve had as a team and we need to get them into shape early,” coach John Gibson said after Monday’s practice. “We’re taking [the tournament] seriously, but it’s going to be a chance for everyone to get some court time.”
“In the league games, there’s not as much playing time for the whole team, especially since we have such a large team this year,” added co-coach Adrian Chapman.
“We’re just a bunch of energetic guys that love to play volleyball, and we all get pumped up and get the crowds right into her,” said Mat Gamsby, 18, who is entering his fifth year with the team.
“Expectations should be pretty high. We’ve got a lot of great team chemistry and everyone’s committed,” he added.
Chapman also is looking forward to what should be an exciting and successful season for the senior spikers.
“We have decent talent this year, just like last year, but we have a lot of guys who want to play this year, who have a lot of heart, and you can build a team with guys with a lot of heart,” he remarked.
“I extremely excited. It’s going to be a really good year,” he added. “We’re going to have a lot of fun and they’ll be really exciting to watch.”
The team’s first home game is slated for Thursday, Sept. 30 versus the Kenora Broncos.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
