The learning focus shifted to the ES Laird Middle School gym on Friday, Sept. 18 as the Lakeland College Rustlers women’s volleyball program held an exhibition game versus Providence College Pilots from Manitoba.
The students packed the gym including young setter, Claire Lucas who welcomed the chance to be courtside to witness the way the game is played at the college level.
“They play more competitively. I’m looking to get some tips to help me see how the game goes at a higher level,” says the grade 7 student.
Lucas says she enjoys the competitive nature of the sport, which still fosters “teamwork and working together.”
The girls from Manitoba are Lloydminster for an invitational tournament hosted by Lakeland College this weekend. They are not daunted by playing the ACAC and leading college champions in Canada.
“It’s exciting getting to play them. We know that they are a competitive team,” says setter, Georgia Friesen. “It will be fun to get some good competition in.”
Friesen touched on the being able to inspire the middle school to the next level.
“I think just showing them that it’s so much fun playing together and this could be their future,” says Friesen.
The Providence Pilots play in the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC). They are in Lloydminster this weekend as Lakeland College hosts men’s and women’s programs from across western Canada, including Alberta programs from Lethbridge, Olds and University of Alberta (Augustana).
For the Rustlers, Sarah Hogue has been with Lloydminster for eight years and is returning to the middle as a player after recovering from injury. She notes several of the ES Laird Sabres are coached by Rustlers players.
“They play on the Rustlers club programs, they do some of our summer camps and a lot of the Sunday programming,” says Hogue.
The home opener for the Rustlers volleyball team is set for Oct. 23 and 24. Medicine Hat will be in Lloydminster on Friday, Oct. 23 and Briercrest will visit on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Meanwhile for this weekend, while the fans at ES Laird Middle School got one of the exhibition games, the full tournament runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday the Lakeland College gym. See the schedule below.
