Young, experienced team hopes to claw way into playoffs
A look at the 2005-06 women’s volleyball season
Sheri Lamb, Staff
Photo by David Lipnowski.
A young Bison women’s volleyball team hopes to make a return to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) playoffs after failing to qualify during the 2004-05 season.
For the first time in coach Ken Bentley’s 18-year career as the Bisons coach, one of his teams didn’t see playoff action. He hopes with a year’s experience and a win in the Junior National Championship last May, the team will be able to improve on last year’s 4-16 record.
Bentley has high expectations for the team, but believes they can meet his goals and improve upon last year’s seventh- place finish in the Canada West Conference.
“We have a lot of improving to do, but I’m confident we’ll succeed,” said Bentley. “But, it’ll be difficult; every year we’re playing in the best conference in the country.”
Five of the top 10 teams in the country are from Canada West, including the defending national champion University of Calgary Dinos, ranked first, and cross-town rival University of Winnipeg Wesmen, ranked fifth. Other nationally-ranked teams from the conference are the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds (3), University of Alberta Pandas (4) and Trinity Western University (10).
Two new teams join the conference this year: Brandon and Thompson Rivers.
The team is off to a 0-2 start this season after dropping matches two weeks ago to the Dinos. The Bisons looked strong in their opening match, pushing the Dinos to five sets.
“We played well enough to win that match and I was pleased with our strong performance,” said Bentley.
He was disappointed in his team’s play in their second game, however, where they were dumped in three straight sets by the defending champs.
Youth is still the key ingredient for this year’s squad, as nine out of 11 players on the roster have less than two years of experience. Second-year captain Lindsey Poggemiller is the Bisons only fifth-year player.
With the team going through a lot of growing pains over the past two seasons, Bentley feels Poggemiller has done a good job in leading by example and being responsible. With a more experienced team this season, he hopes Poggemiller will be able to focus more on here own game and worry less about what her teammates are doing.
“Last year, Poggemiller had so much to be concerned about with so many first- year players (eight),” said Bentley. “This year I’m hoping she can concentrate on her own game, and I think we’re in that position this year for her and that’s really positive.”
Poggemiller, who won a national championship during her rookie season (01-02), is excited about this year’s team and their possibilities.
“My trust in my teammates is a lot greater and I have a lot more confidence in them,” she said. “Now I know their character and I trust them a lot more.”
Stephanie Zubriski has recovered from a broken finger, which sidelined her last January, and Sabrina Barnes is back for another year. Both second-year players are key to the Bisons’ success, according to Poggemiller.
“I already see so much maturity in them,” she said.
Another key addition is third-year Amy Matthews, who joins the Bisons after spending her first two years with the Wesmen. Other new players include Mami Myiashita, Amy Schmidt and Melanie Brown. Two veteran members from last year who won’t be back are third-year setter Roxanna Koe and fourth-year Laura Silversides.
