A year older, a year better for Hat High

Varsity boys side opens with 3-1 win over Brooks

With most of their roster returning, you’d think the Hat High Mohawks’ varsity boys volleyball team would be the side to beat in the South East Zone Volleyball League.

Except that they were all in Grade 10 last year. They’re still a team on the rise, but this doesn’t necessarily have to be their season.

“Our team is mostly Grade 11’s, we only have two Grade 12’s so we’re pretty young,” said Grade 11 middle Ethan Egert. “It’s pretty much the same team from last year, we didn’t lose many guys.”

The Mohawks still beat Brooks’ Buffalos Wednesday night on home court, but only after dropping the first set in a 3-1 (22-25, 25-7, 25-11, 25-17) decision. Egert was dominant whenever the ball came his way, but it was a lack of early energy that Egert felt prevented a cleaner victory.

“You’ve just got to stay focused, we get goofy sometimes,” he admitted. “We need to keep our heads in the game.”

After falling to McCoy early in their home tournament this past weekend, it’s obvious there are lots of other local sides ready to pounce with more experience on the roster. McCoy fell 3-0 (25-18, 27-25, 25-21) to Senator Gershaw in Bow Island Wednesday, where the Gators figure to be the odds-on favourite despite being the smallest school in the league.

But the Mohawks would love to see Gershaw in a league final in a couple months anyhow. There’s lots of time to grow, after all.

“This year, expectations are higher,” said Hat High coach Mike Jerred. “Guys are matured, they grew over the summer, bunch of boys getting taller, the skill level’s getting better. It’s a good squad.”

Jerred took over the reigns last year as Hat High hosted provincials in their new gym, but only won two sets and finished their match record winless in the 4A tournament. The baptism by fire, as Jerred puts it, should now serve them well going forward.

Led by outside hitter Jared Stach, the Mohawks were dominant when they wanted to be Wednesday. Figuring out how to keep that edge more consistently will be key to their success.

“Probably energy, but we can still improve on it,” said Egert when asked what his team’s best attribute is. “I feel like once we get going, we’re a pretty good team.”