Two Muskie teams earn byes

Two Muskie teams have earned byes to their respective NorWOSSA finals this Friday in Dryden.
Even though the junior girls’ volleyball squad lost their regular-season finale here yesterday to the Dryden Eagles, the black-and-gold got the bye because they had won more sets during the eight-game season.
A cheer went up around the bench when coach Duane Roen announced this after yesterday’s loss.
As it turned out, the team needed to win only one set to earn the bye.
As for the seesaw match itself, which the Muskies lost 3-2 by scores of 20-25, 27-25, 23-25, 25-20, and 9-15, Roen said just wants his girls to stop making silly mistakes.
“We just need to tighten up,” he stressed. “It all comes down to who wants it more on Friday.”^Meanwhile, the Muskie senior boys’ basketball team also has the bye to the NorWOSSA final, capping their regular season with a 64-57 win over the Dryden Eagles here yesterday.
“Overall, I’m happy with the way the game went,” said coach Paul Noonan. “We know that we’ve got to be aggressive, [but] I think we’re ready [for NorWOSSA].”^During the game, Muskie Rick Ricard went down hard with an apparent knee injury. He later left the gym on crutches.
The other two Muskie court squads will have to play in the semi-finals this Friday in Dryden.
The junior boys’ basketball team lost 58-46 in overtime to the Eagles here yesterday, allowing Dryden to clinch the bye to the final.
But that is all for the better, according to coach Claude Gagnon, who said he would rather play Kenora in the semi-finals than have to play the home team.
“Dryden is the team to beat, it should be interesting,” he remarked.
The Muskie senior girls’ volleyball team also lost their regular-season finale here yesterday, falling to the Eagles 3-1 in their best-of-five showdown.
After a gruelling first set, which the Eagles won 30-28, Dryden won the second one 25-20.
The black-and-gold battled back to take the third set 25-17, but the visitors then iced the match with a 25-16 win in the fourth set.
Also yesterday, the two Muskie senior teams used their last home game to salute those players who will be graduating this year.
The squads also thanked parents, guardians, and friends for their support this season.