BY KIM MATTHEWS
The Grade 9 H. J. Cody Lakers girls’ volleyball team consists of Erin Matthews, Morgan Lockyer, Paige Hagel, Leah Hagel, Alyssa Cossuta, Madison Dodman, Braxton Ornates, Kiara Gardner, Kaitlyn Simpson, Alex Cadman, Abby Tucker, Regan Eisler, Lauchlyn Martin and Bailey Kentz. The coach for the season is one of the dads, Eric Brinker, who stepped up to help out the school and the teachers.
He was given a daunting challenge as the team was picked on Sept. 11th, practised on the 12th then had their first tournament on the 13th and 14th at Red Deer College.
The girls fared well winning only one of four games, but considering they had only been thrown together three days prior they should be proud of their efforts.
The girls played their first league game against the St. Thomas team out of Red Deer on Sept. 18th. They won four out of five sets played. That’s a great start to the season for them.
On the weekend they travelled to Olds to play in a 17 team tournament. They improved in their performance again. On the Friday they won the first game and then lost the second game. Then Saturday they once again won the first game. In the second game it went to a third set to break the tie and they lost a close 15-13. The girls were disappointed because if they had won that one, they would have made it into the gold medal game.
The parents could be overheard talking about how much the girls have improved since Grade 8 and even how much they have improved since the previous weekend. The parents give kudos to the girls and to Coach Eric on a job well done so early in the season.