Jamie Mountain
The goal is to improve each time out and the good thing for the Rainy River Owls’ senior girls’ volleyball team is that there still is a lot of season left.
Rainy River saw its league record fall to 0-2 with a 3-0 loss the Atikokan Voyageurs in NorWOSSA ‘A’ action yesterday at RRHS.
The set scores were 25-15, 25-7, and 25-14.
“There were times that they did okay, but Atikokan I’d say is probably the No. 1 team in the league,” Owls’ coach Tyson Grinsell said of the Voyageurs, who came into yesterday’s match fresh off of claiming gold at the annual Westgate Tigers’ “Spike-Off” tournament over the weekend.
“It would have been nice to do a little bit better throughout the match, but I knew that Atikokan was probably going to win.”
Making up the Owls’ roster this season are Kate Brown, Micaela Jolicouer, Mackenzie Ludeman, Ava Tom, Avery Kreger, Erika Gerula, Ireland Blakeney, Taya Hagarty and Olivia Kreger.
Grinsell said that his players have been really dedicated and have been working hard to get better and that the squad’s ultimate goal is to make the playoffs.
“Their defence and offence is improving and they are becoming a well-rounded team,” he lauded.
“I’m happy with the start to our season and we will keep working hard to try and make playoffs.”
The Owls had opened the season last Monday by also dropping a 3-0 decision to the St. Thomas Aquinas Saint (Kenora) at RRHS.
Despite the loss, Grinsell said there were some positives for his charges in that match.
“We were pumped that we got 22 [points] in the third set against T.A., so we didn’t care that we lost that match,” he noted.
“The girls are working really hard in practice and keep improving all the time, so I am happy with where we are at right now.”
The Owls will resume NorWOSSA action again on Tuesday, Jan. 14 against the host Voyageurs and won’t play at home again until February.
