Ladysmith Secondary School Grade 8 girls’ volleyball coach Anna Shupe says she couldn’t have asked for a better group of girls.
Only seven girls showed up to play, and Shupe brought in a seventh-grader to give her eight girls, and she is very proud of her team for the hard work, enthusiasm and commitment they showed at practices and at games.
“We just had so much fun,” she said.
There were 14 teams in the Grade 8 girls’ volleyball league this season. Up against schools that were big enough to field two or three teams, the 49ers finished seventh in the regular season and advanced to the final eight tournament.
Shupe would like to thank all the parents who volunteered to support and drive the girls, as well as teacher-sponsor Laura Mazurenko for her help and support, and the LSS seniors girls’ team and its coaches — Teresa McKinley and Nicole Godin-Neill — who came out and volunteered at practices to help the Grade 8 girls get ready for the final eight tournament.
The team included Danica McKinley, Odessa Kasprowicz, Gina Cambran, Hailey Harrison, Jasmine Seymour, Maddie Doyle, Brittney Webber and Piper Doerkson, who is in Grade 7.
Shupe used to play for LSS, and she was excited to come back to the school to coach.
“My goal was to end the season with solid, basic skills and a love of the game,” she said. “It was a pleasure to coach such a great group of girls who showed teamwork, sportsmanship and positive attitudes toward each other and other teams.”
