All four Cochrane High school volleyball teams had a very successful Zone Championships at various locations across Alberta during Nov. 17 and 18.
The Cobras junior boys team won the South Central Zones on Nov. 18 when defeating W.H. Croxford and the junior girls Cobras brought home silver from the tournament.
The senior girls Cochrane Cobras won the Zone Championships, beating Strathmore to qualify for the Provincial Championships in Sylvan Lake at HJ Cody High School. Cochrane will play Canmrose, St. Paul, Peace Wapiti and Barrhead over the course of the round robin portion of the tournament. There are 12 teams total and the top six will qualify for the playoff round.
The senior boys also qualified for provincials taking home sliver at zones after a loss to the Strathmore Spartans in the final in three sets, two games to one. Despite the loss, head coach Doug Jensen was very pleased with how his team looked throughout the duration of the tournament.
“As an overall statement, we played really well during the tournament. We peaked at the end of the season, where before we kind of had those peaks and valleys throughout the season,” Jensen said.
“We played a full tournament with some unbelievable determination and work ethic. It went relatively well in retrospect, obviously we’re a little disappointed we couldn’t bring home the banner but we played amazing this weekend.”
Jensen also said that playing as well as they did during their games was a good consolation prize, as the team is playing well heading into the provincial games.
“We showed that heart and grit in the final, we just got a little bit unlucky. But it was certainly reassuring and rewarding in itself that the boys kind of figured it out and showed that level of intensity for the whole weekend,” said Jensen.
The Cobras will travel to Strathmore for the provincial tournament and are looking to make a statement by playing their best volleyball of the season.
“We seemed to have found our groove and heading into the final tournament that’s what every team wants to do. Teams want to be at their peak and flying high into the most important competition that you’ve been training for all season,” Jensen said.
“We’ve had some light, fun practices just to keep the guys loose and having fun heading into provincials.”
The Cobras are in tough during the tournament, drawing the SCA Eagles, LCI Rams, PWA Titans, Cody Lakers and Barrhead Griffins in their pool. Jensen said his team will just look to give each team they play the best game they can.
“We don’t see a lot of these teams over the course of the season being in other leagues and such, but you obviously hear rumours of how good they might be, and where they fit into the whole picture,” Jensen said.
“From what I’ve heard, we’re in a very difficult pool so whoever lines up at the other end of the net we’re going to give them our best shot.”
The provincial tournaments for all teams will go Nov. 24 and 25.
