BU women took small step forward

The Trinity Western Spartans’ path to the Canada West final included a loss to the Brandon University Bobcats this year.

For the second straight season, the BU women’s volleyball team earned one of its few victories against an absolute powerhouse, proving when it’s at its very best, it can hang with the best.

However, for the fourth consecutive year, Brandon finished last in the 14-team league at 3-17.

Head coach Kailan Robinson was disappointed with the finish, as she saw the Bobcats’ ceiling and how seldom they reached it.

“We’re still improving, we’re still making big strides and pushing to prove ourselves in the league,” Robinson said.

“Maybe it comes from learning how to compete on the road because we’re just such a different team in the gym in Brandon compared to other teams’ gyms.”

ROAD WOES

BU truly was a completely different team away from the Healthy Living Centre, where it went 3-7 and was two five-set losses away from .500.

It cracked the win column on the last weekend of the first semester, edging UBC Okanagan 3-2 before falling in five the following night.

BU knocked off Trinity Western 3-1 on Jan. 16, and bounced back from a 3-2 loss to sweep Regina on senior night.

But the road matches were ugly, as the Bobcats won just two sets and went 0-10, closing the season with four straight 3-0 defeats to the MacEwan Griffins and Winnipeg Wesmen to extinguish their slim playoff hopes.

THE LINEUP

Carly Thomson returned to the position she started her Bobcat career in, as the only setter who was going to see significant court time all season.

The Grande Prairie, Alta., native led all Canada West setters in kills for the second year in a row with 75, while putting up 7.38 assists per set. Brandon posted a league-low .132 hitting percentage, though.

A large part of that was adjusting to life without go-to outside hitter Avery Burgar, while Georgia Johnson battled a shoulder injury and ultimately had surgery.

That left rookie Brynn Wildeboer and Steph Miller, who returned to the program after first playing in the 2018-19 season, until former UBCO star Maddy Hettinga joined partway through the first semester.

Hettinga helped the Bobcats past her former team with 12 kills and two errors, then added 12 more kills the following night to lead the team again.

“She was bigger than what we had, she had experience in the league and after the UBCO weekend I was like ‘This is amazing,’” Robinson said, adding it didn’t solve the team’s offensive struggles in the end.

“I don’t know if it was her overall fitness or connection with the team, she struggled to get in a groove with Carly … it was just a weekly decision on who performed well in practice and who could bring what we needed against a certain team.

“Brynn was so consistent in serve receive … and she could hit a fast-tempo ball. Steph and Maddy couldn’t hit that fast set from Carly we were trying to bring into the offence. Between Steph and Maddy, it was who’s passing better, who’s attacking better; it was hot and cold each week.”

Miller led the team in kills and errors with 128 and 85.

Cassidy Hauta quietly finished as one of three Bobcats with more than 100 kills. The fourth-year opposite hit .125, third on the team, while posting 36 blocks.

Meanwhile, middle blocker Nerissa Dyer was perhaps the best player on the team, putting up 59 blocks (.83 per set), with 123 kills and a team-high .254 hitting percentage.

Megan Pickford started the year as the second middle, but missed six matches with a broken hand. Alexa Parken filled in and took time to adjust, but impressed Robinson.

“It was so valuable for Alexa to get that time,” Robinson said.

“It was tough at first, but everyone all around got better because of it.”

Brooklyn Pratt locked down the libero spot, and had a career year. The former Vincent Massey Viking led Canada West with 3.82 digs per set and 271 total.

“She did amazing this year. I’m so proud of Brooklyn for her play but also her mental game,” Robinson said.

“In past years, she struggled with her confidence … she owned her role, she knew she could prove herself and to be the dig leader for half a season or more, she also behaved as a leader, demanding results out of her teammates.”

MOVING FORWARD

Next season looks promising as Thomson is the only graduating player, while six-foot-one setter Alex Roberge is set to return from her redshirt season rehabbing a torn ACL.

The Bobcats added setter Kaitlyn Couckuyt to join her, along with Vincent Massey Vikings teammate Zoe Redekop and Saskatoon libero Hannah Flaman in the recruit class.

Robinson is off on maternity leave for eight months, but plans to return in October in time for the regular season.

“We’ll have a lot of fifth years leaving next year,” Robinson said. “I want to be part of that season.”

» tfriesen@brandonsun.com