WESTLOCK – The RF Staples Senior High Girls Volleyball team capped off an outstanding season with a hard-fought victory, claiming the provincial bronze medal at the Alberta High School Volleyball Championship in Ponoka.
The team, led by Coach Leanne Huppertz, defeated St. Albert Catholic High School in the bronze medal match, securing a 2-0 win with dominant set scores of 25-11 and 25-21.
“The girls really came together as a team,” said Huppertz. “They played collectively and were determined to win. They covered and dug up the balls really well. They scored lots of points from their aggressive hitting and smart placement of the ball.”
The season was one of exceptional performance for the RF Staples girls, who demonstrated their strength on the court throughout the year. They had a successful season winning gold at the Barrhead tournament then silver at the Morinville – St. Albert Tournament. They won silver at the Louis Saint Laura tournament and capped off the year by winning gold at zones in Whitecourt where they went undefeated the entire weekend, which qualified them for provincials.
“It took the team believing in themselves and each other,” said Huppertz. “Also they did not let up when they were ahead to let the other team gain momentum.”
This year’s bronze medal is the best result the RF Staples girls have ever achieved at the provincial level.
“To my knowledge, I have been at the school for 29 years, this is the best placing that the girls teams ever done,” said Huppertz. “We have now been to provincials for the last four years. But this is by far the best showing we have had."
