While many teams have a history of never living up to their fans’ and coach’s expectations, the Sturgeon Spirits volleyball team seemingly had the opposite problem on their hands.
After a season of play in the challenging metro Edmonton premier men’s conference ended with a 6-3 record and semifinal loss, the team’s chances for provincials seemed over.
Although the loss may have deterred some teams from their goal, the Spirits rose to the challenge in the Edmonton zone elimination tournament. They earned a provincial berth after defeating the Archbishop Jordan Scots in four sets and the Ross Sheppard Thunderbirds in five sets. In the playoff match to rank teams third and fourth in the zone, the Spirits fell in three sets to the Jasper Place Rebels.
Spirits head coach Tim Spenrath believes his team had the potential to reach the task prior to the season, but putting two and two together to make it actually happen is an entirely different story.
“I thought we would be a competitive team but provincials is a big step and you have to beat big schools [to get there],” said Spenrath. “One of those schools was Ross Shep, which was phenomenal.”
At 4A provincials last week in Red Deer the Spirits were seeded 15th out of 16 teams. They ended the tournament with a final ranking of 11th overall in the province.
Spenrath was impressed to see the vertical movement in the provincial standings, but still believes his team could have achieved more if a few more points fell their way.
“I always want to place higher, there is no doubt about it. We lost a game that if we came out a little better we would have finished in the top 10 but that’s what sports is all about,” he said.
While the skill level of the Spirits was a main constant of the team’s nucleus, another key factor towards their success rested with chemistry. If not for the players’ friendship off the court, Spenrath questions where his team would be.
“The best attribute of our team is that we have a bunch of guys that are friends. They hang out together and don’t just play sports together,” said Spenrath. “I thought that’s the glue that holds it together and makes it a competitive team at the level you want to play at.”
In the three years since Spenrath took over the head coaching position, he has seen the team rise from a challenging season in the city conference to a promising one and then an outstanding campaign in premier. Team standout and reigning athlete of the year, Matt Kaup, has been with the Spirits throughout the process, including the challenging first year campaign. He believes physiques, combined with the overall mentality, is the reason behind the rapid change,
“We got a lot bigger since Grade 10 and guys starting playing more volleyball and caring about the sport,” said Kaup.
The transition throughout the years also wouldn’t have been possible if not for the hard work and dedication put in by the coaching staff and players.
“We were a regular team. We just weren’t great. By having practices till 6:30 some nights and playing against good teams we got better and improved,” he said. “I see a bright future in Sturgeon Composite volleyball.”
That future however will not include Spenrath, as the math and physical education teacher wishes to focus his attention on the men’s basketball team that he has also coached for the past three season. Although he is leaving the team at its peak, Spenrath believes with the right coach the Spirits will be able to continue to the next level.
“My first goal is to hand the team off to a very good coach, somebody who will be able to bring them to the next level as well,” he said.
