SRSS girls varsity volleyball looking to build through season

It took a few games of South Central Athletic Conference play, but the Steinbach Regional Sabres varsity girls volleyball team has found the win column.

The Sabres defeated Léo-Rémillard 3-1 (25-20, 25-13, 23-25, 25-20) Oct. 7 in Steinbach to record their first victory in league play.

“We had a bit of a slow start and we’re progressively getting better,” head coach Amy Toews said after the win.

“The girls are excited about the win today. We’ve got a young group this year.”

It was a busy start to the season for the Sabres, as they’ve already played three tournaments so far.

“It feels like it came extra fast this year,” Toews said with a chuckle.

“We had a lot right from the beginning and now it feels like we’re settling a little bit more into the season.”

Toews said the team’s attitude has been top-tier even if the results haven’t been.

“They all have just been so positive with each other, on the court, off the court, bench, it doesn’t matter,” Toews said.

The match against Léo-Rémillard showcased what the Sabres were all about. When receiving and passing in system, the team looked unstoppable but if the play got scrambled they struggled.

“(You’ve got) to battle through that,” Toews said.

“You’re not going to be in system all the time. It’s teaching them not to give up for the ball. We’ve done a lot of drills in practice to try and hone that, and that part of our game has definitely gotten better since the beginning of the season.”

That steady improvement in practices and in games is exactly what the Sabres coaching staff is hoping to see this season.

“We’re not necessarily looking at outcomes specifically with this team,” Toews said.

“Just to keep learning and growing moving forward.”

The Sabres will next play at home when they host J.H. Bruns Oct. 21.