Photo by Marcel Vander Wier
OVERPOWERED 鈥� Alberta North's Makayla Teichroeb powers a spike past Yukon blockers Teah Dickson (7) and Meaghan Simmons (11) during a junior female volleyball match at the Arctic Winter Games Wednesday. Alberta North won in straight sets.
After winning their first game in straight sets over Nunavut, the Yukon始s junior female volleyball team hasn始t had much go their way since.
FAIRBANKS 鈥� After winning their first game in straight sets over Nunavut, the Yukon始s junior female volleyball team hasn始t had much go their way since.
The club opened its tournament with a 26-24, 25-22 win against Nunavut, but has since dropped nine straight games, winning only one more set against the Northwest Territories.
This morning, the team was dealt one final blow, losing their final game to N.W.T. in straight sets 27-25, and 25-19.
Yesterday, the Yukon dropped an afternoon game to Alberta North 25-13, 25-13, before getting blown out by the top-ranked team from Yamal 25-3, 25-6.
Coach Kasia Leary said her team learned much from the experience.
"It始s been an extremely intense learning experience,鈥� she said yesterday. "The biggest thing these girls have had to learn how to do is work as a team and communicate as a team. I think part of our problem was every single player had different expectations, and that was our biggest battle.
"We始ve had some moments of brilliance in every single game, which has been awesome, but it始s been a battle. It really has.鈥�
The Yukon squad ranges in age from 14 to 18. Leary said with gaining experience in mind, it始s the "little moments鈥� that count.
"When we first began, we were super nervous,鈥� team captain Chanel Newell explained of her club始s troubles. "Our coach sat us down a couple of times and talked to us. Thanks to her, we have come together as more of a team and played better.鈥�
Regardless of the losses, the 17-year-old said she has enjoyed the Games.
"It始s super good practice for us, coming from the Yukon facing these hard teams.鈥� she said. "We just look at the positive side of it. We始re not as good, but it始s good for our skill 鈥� individually and as a team.鈥�
Newell said facing teams like Yamal were particularly interested.
"It始s super weird trying to read the players, because we have no idea what they始re going to do,鈥� she said. "And since they speak a different language, we don始t know what they始re saying.
But it始s cool to face somebody who lives so far away from us. It始s such a cool opportunity for us.鈥�
Alberta North power Makayla Teichroeb did give the Yukon some credit.
"They始re a good team,鈥� the 17-year-old said following her team始s win. "But we just need to stay focused in games like this, stay strong throughout, working on new things.鈥�
Teichroeb said the Alberta North team was selected after 70 athletes tried out in Grande Prairie, alongside a second tryout in Fort McMurray.
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