After going with a heavy veteran squad in 2019, the Lacombe Composite Rams Senior Girls Volleyball team will be returning three veterans to their squad in 2020.
Jay Adamson, who coached the Rams in 2019 but will not be returning in 2020, said the three returning athletes will be able to build on a year that saw them see success in their tournaments.
“We didn’t meet our ultimate goal of making Provincials, but we have a pretty competitive zone with the Red Deer schools,” he said. “They are drawing almost double the kids we are drawing from, but we were competitive which speaks for our program. Every tournament we went to, we finished on the championship side of the draw and we won our own tournament. We also brought home two bronze medals.”
Returning Ram Katelyn Jeglum hopes to improve their league record and compete for a spot at provincials.
“We didn’t play as well as we would have hoped in league but in tournaments we were close with the Red Deer schools,” she said.
Maddy Felt, who plays right side, said they will be able to use the experienced earned from playing with several Grade 12s this year.
”We learned a lot from the veterans. It will be hard without them because they played from Grade 10 all the way through Grade 12, so it will be a big step for me Katelyn and Peighton to be leaders next year. I think it will be fun,” she said.
Peighton Melton, power, said their 2020 team will need to learn to play together.
“I haven’t played with any of the girls who will be playing with us next year, so it will be a learning curve for everyone. We will have to get to know each other along with our strategies,” she said.
Adamson said it wasn’t an easy decision to leave but believes the next Rams coach has some solid athletes to work with.
“I have had three fantastic years and these girls who are returning are fantastic individuals. It is hard to step away from something I have really enjoyed doing. Next year, my assistant Coach Courtney Petrie will still be on the coaching staff. Our athletic director is currently finalizing a new head coaching position,” he said
Jeglum said it will be different next year without Adamson on the sidelines.
”He did a good job pushing us to be our best and he is very knowledgeable. It will be hard to lose him but we will see how it goes,” she said.
Felt added, “He taught me a lot and pushed me to do my best. I feel like he helped me improve. It will be hard not having him around after having him for the past two years.”
Jeglum added she hopes next year’s team will be able to come together for a common goal.
“If we come together as a team, we will have a lot of potential and I think there will be a lot of older Grade 12 veterans,” she said.
Melton added, “With all of the new players in, I hope we will be able to say we created a strong bond like we had this year. I hope we end up getting to Provincials. That is always the goal.”
todd.vaughan@lacombeexpress.com
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