SHERBROOKE, QUEBEC
Team Yukon’s female volleyball team has had its moments, with great plays and hot streaks, but they could use a bunch more of them this week at the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Que.
The team has yet to log a win – or a set, for that matter – after four matches.
“We’ve had some really good moments and we’re trying to capitalize on that,” said Yukon captain Robyn Fortune.
“The other teams are obviously a lot taller than us and have been training a lot more, and most of them play college. So we’ve just been trying to do what we can on our side.
“Obviously they’re going to smack the ball down and there’s nothing we can do about it. But we’re trying to control what we can.”
Yukon lost to Ontario 25-6, 25-2, 25-5 and to Alberta 25-9, 25-8, 25-10 on Saturday.
They then fell to B.C. 25-10, 25-7, 25-6 and to P.E.I. 25-19, 25-12, 25-6 on Sunday.
Things aren’t going to get any easier in the immediate future with a game against Saskatchewan Monday.
“I think they’ve played at their best at times,” said Yukon head coach Derick Bilodeau. “I think our best game so far has been against Alberta when we played yesterday in the afternoon … they’re one of the favourites in the tournament, but we stepped up our game on our side.”
Against P.E.I. Yukon had a close first set, trailing by three or four points most of the way. The islanders then came out strong in the second with a 9-2 lead, but Yukon closed the gap to 13-10 with a five-point run on Fortune’s serve. But the wheels came off in the third.
“We got discouraged,” said Fortune. “I think we can play way better against them. We were trying to mix it up and put in different players. It wasn’t really working, but I think we’ll see them (Team P.E.I.) again.”
Both Yukon teams – male and female – are the only volley ball squads at the Games from Canada’s three territories.
“From the beginning of the tournament the girls are continuously improving,” said Bilodeau. “We’re probably one of the only teams here that’s going to get better and better and better as the tournament progresses because of our, sort of, lack of experience to start with.”
Contact Tom Patrick at tomp@yukon-news.com