Volleyball is back for local student athletes

After the Ratihén:te High School girls’ volleyball team won the admiration of the community by competing in tournaments against much bigger schools last year, the squad is returning to the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) this fall.

“Our first tournament is coming up in November, and they’ll be ready,” said coach Jeffrey Nelson.

What’s more, Nelson, who has done so much to revive the sport in Kanesatake, will be coaching an elementary school RSEQ volleyball team as well this year. It will be another first for the community, he believes.

Meanwhile, eight players have returned to the Ratihén:te team. While last season it was a Benjamin squad, generally for those in grades seven and eight, now the students will be competing at the Cadet level, normally for those in grades nine and 10.

There are two grade seven students and one grade eight player on the team, so it’s a young group, but Nelson feels his squad has what it takes at the Cadet level.

“We’re off to a great start,” he said.

Youth is nothing new for the Ratihén:te team, which even included elementary school students to fill out the roster last time around.

The coach, who has always espoused a pure approach to the game, will go even further this year by working to implement switching, giving everyone dedicated positions.

“They’re catching on to it really quickly,” said Nelson, who noted the team is currently practicing three times a week.

“They’re getting the switching down, they’re getting the confidence, and they’re improving every single practice.”

Grade nine student Sage Harrington, a player on the team, was happy to get back to practicing a few weeks ago when the team first met back up.

“It honestly felt amazing,” Harrington said. “I missed warming up and playing with my friends after school.”

Whereas last year everything was new, she feels the team is hitting its stride early this time around.

“Last year when we were just getting started, it was a little wonky. But now that we know what’s going to happen and what’s coming for us this year, we’re pretty much ready,” Harrington said.

She’s glad to be practicing three times a week and determined for the squad to put in a good season.

“As a team, I find we grow pretty much every day. We learn something new.” Harrington believes communication and teamwork are the keys to a strong season.

“The girls are so gung ho,” said Nelson. “They want to practice every day if they could, which makes me really happy.”

Nelson’s plan is to start the team in a lower division – every tournament, the squad has a chance to move up a level if it is dominating the competition, ensuring they can face teams at a comparable skill level.

The coach’s goal, after all, is to nurture a love of the game.

“I want them to keep coming back,” Nelson said. “If they keep coming back, that means I’m doing something right.”

The Ratihén:te team will compete from November 9-10, with more details to come. The Rotiwennakéhte Ionterihwaienhstáhkhwa elementary school team is still awaiting its schedule.

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