The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Hapnot Collegiate's junior varsity teams fared better than the senior varsity during volleyball zone action last weekend. The JV Kopper Kweens made it to the finals in Thompson against the Margaret Barbour Collegiate Institute (MBCI) Spartans and lost 25-17 and 25-20. Coach Don Bodnarus was pleased with his team throughout and felt his team saved their best game for last. "The games could have gone either way," says Bodnarus. "Our team played well as a unit. I'm very proud and it was a classic battle." The JV Kopper Kweens earned the right to play in the final after downing the RD Parker Trojans 25-12, 17-25, and 15-6. The JV Kopper Kings also playing in Thompson, lost in the semi-final to Joe A. Ross 25-23 and 25-23. Coach Rob Abbott felt his team played well and simply came up short. On the SV side, both teams didn't come out with the results they wanted. The Kopper Kweens finished fourth overall after placing second during round robin. Coach Ken Kittle's group lost in the semi-final to The Pas' MBCI Spartans 25-20 and 25-12. "We came out flat," Kittle says. "Friday was good. On Saturday they weren't calling the ball or playing their game." Kittle expressed disappointment because his team didn't show the potential they had during the pre-zone tournament the weekend before. "Had they done that, we would have won zones," says Kittle. He was pleased with Tara Abbott, who was the libero. Kittle stated she was one of the players who passed the ball well and moved well on the court. The Kopper Kweens coach is especially disappointed the outcome wasn't better because the team is losing seven to eight players this year. SV Kopper Kings coach Craig McIntosh might be more disappointed after his team lost in the final against the RD Parker Trojans 25-23 and 25-20. Going undefeated in round robin, the Kopper Kings had to face the MBCI Spartans to play in the final after losing the count back for points. The biggest factor McIntosh believes hurt his team in the final was in the players' heads. "They were afraid to make mistakes," a frustrated McIntosh explains. "...you can't win playing consciously." This was a group McIntosh has confidence and the loss won't sit well in his stomach because he doesn't think the zone is represented by the right team. "Based on the results throughout the season, we've met up with Thompson twice and we beat them," says McIntosh. "I truly believe as a coach that we were the strongest team in the zone and I still do." Now it's time to rebuild for the Kopper Kings as they lose key players in Jake Rogers, Ian Clark and Daniel Dowell.
