Teamwork and communication essential for North Stars’ middles, coach says
Newtonbrook’s middles are the future of a competitive program if they can keep up the teamwork, says their coach, Remy Basu.
“I think what our girls are struggling with is just working together and communicating,” she said. “If we can get that going then we play our game and play really well.”
The North Stars’ Dec. 1 loss to York Mills, 2-1 (19-25, 25-21, 15-17), was far from disparaging for the junior girls volleyball squad.
The second set proved to be a turning point for the team, and that was in thanks to Cassie Morris, Rachel Duda and Vanessa Muff gelling together as one unit.
“They’re sort of finding themselves,” Basu said. “I think that when they actually communicate with each other they have success.”
In the first set Newtonbrook jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead, but multiple returns out of bounds led to a Titans turnaround.
On the other side of the net, York Mills coach Katharine Benson said it was her girls’ cohesiveness that helped them fight off Newtonbrook.
Being lauded were Summyr Whitter-Rhule and Dorothea Kefer for their tenacity, in particular Whitter-Rhule’s casual stuffs at the net.
“Basically our offence is really strong, shutting them down at middle,” Benson said. “I would say Summyr and Dorothea, our middles were great.”
Benson considered the third set to be the turning point as her squad dragged it out to a 17-15 win. During that back-and-forth battle the lead changed hands three times.
On the counter, Basu considered the second set, where the North Stars won 25-21, to be a keystone for her girls.
“Our communication and actually getting behind the ball and getting into the game was there,” she said.
Not all was lost on the first day of December, as the senior girls won earlier in the afternoon, downing York Mills 2-0 (25-23, 25-20).
Next on the schedule for the junior girls was Victoria Park Panthers Dec. 3, where they lost 2-0 (25-22, 25-15).