Nov 24, 2011


Photo: Johnny Vinkle hitting, (check out the height) with Skyler Howes and Callum McGregor covering the hit. Photo courtesy of Diana Billingsley

The Senior Boys Panthers headed to Mackenzie High school in Deep River on November 17 after winning two in eight of their KASSAA season. The team was seeded sixth at the EOSSA tournament and played Renfrew High School in their first game. Both games were extremely close, though the Panthers lost the first two sets to Renfrew, and in the second game played Rideau HS with Rideau coming out on top in the end, taking the first two set 25-20 and 25-30. Sharbot Lake coach Mark Elliot, who has been coaching volleyball at Sharbot Lake since 1985, was pleased with how the team played. “Our guys played exceptionally well. They picked up most of the other teams’ hits, blocked well and were really powerful at the net.” Elliot said even the opposing team coaches felt the Panthers might have stood a better chance if the circumstances had been a bit different and if our team had been seeded differently. Following the Renfrew game, the opposing coach told Elliott that the Panthers likely could have been third or fourth in the other pool and that if that had been the case, they likely would have made it into the semi final round.

Panthers middle hitter John Vinkle had “a mammoth tournament”, Elliot said. “I have never seen him play that well and everyone had their eyes on him… Setter Skyler Howes also had a great tournament and was consistent throughout.” Hats off to the Panthers who had a great season this year and for making it to EOSSA for their first time since 2003. Coach Elliot is already fired up for next year. “We have a number of juniors coming up so we might just be that much deeper and stronger next year and in fact might just be looking at giving OFSSA a go” Things are looking bright for Senior Boys Volleyball at SLHS.

 

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