Steinbach volleyball team wins invitational tournament

The SRSS Grade 9 boys volleyball team is off to a great start this season, winning a tournament last weekend. 

Head Coach Mike Pittman says his team responded well, playing against other grade nine teams at the River East invitational tournament. 

“So, it was interesting to see how we were going to match up against our own age rather than playing up all the time. The boys came out and completely dominated. We didn't drop a set the entire weekend. Even in the finals, I think we kept the team from Sisler underneath 20 points, both sets.” 

He says it was a lot of fun to watch the team play strong in every game.

SRSS Grade 9 boys volleyball team finishes in top spot at River East invitational tournament. (Photo submitted)

While they competed against other grade 9 teams last weekend, this weekend they are facing some older teams. 

“The SRSS Junior Varsity Volleyball tournament had a team pull out this weekend, so they asked us if we wanted to fill that spot. I won't have a full roster there, I'm going to be missing some boys because it was short notice, but we entered. We're going to compete; we're going to do our best and just try to learn here and there.” 

Steinbach's Eric Loeppky is with Canada's National Men's Volleyball team which recently qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Pittman says his success serves as inspiration for these young athletes. 

“I use Eric's name quite regularly at practice, even when we're demonstrating drills and stuff like that. You want to use that because these guys look up to the players like that.” 

Pittman says it is exciting to coach these young athletes. 

“These boys are at the age now where it's not about just the fun anymore. They’re eager to learn about the game and learn the strategy more, which is very exciting for me as a coach that also played at some higher levels, teaching these boys the inner workings of the game how to pick apart the other team. They’re at a perfect age for that now.”

-With files from Dave Anthony 

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