WE are the Brandon Bobcats. We play in the Canada West Conference in the CIS. The CIS is Div 1 for Canada. There are 3 other Conferences in the CIS. Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic The Canada West Conference has 11 teams that compete in the conference. 4 teams in BC, 2 teams in Alberta, 2 in Sask, 3 in Manitoba. We will play each team twice during the season. We will then have 20 league matches from Oct 30- Feb 11. For example we will fly to Vancouver to play defending national champs UBC, we will play them Friday night. Then we will turn around and play them again on Saturday. On opposite years they will travel to Brandon.
After the season we then have playoffs. The top 7 teams make the playoffs in our conference. #1 ranked team will get a bye and the right to host the conference final 4. The other 6 teams will play a best of three matches weekend at the highest ranked teams home. Then the final four to determine the league champ and rankings for the Nationals.
This year Canada West Conference has 3 births at Nationals, so one team out of the final four will not make the National championship. Canada West has won most of the national Championships in the last 25 years. With Quebec winning the two times that a Canada West team hasn't.
The Bobcat team will be on the young side this year. We will have two fifth year players. Leftside Jaryn Reuther and Middle Claire Willerton. WE then have 3 third year players. Starting setter Kellie Baker, Libero Lindsay Mclaughlin, and transfer Lexi Loewen. We then have a tremendously athletic 2nd year group. Middle Meaghan Robertson, who was on the Canadian rookie team. Middle Larissa Vonkeman who played big minutes for us at the end of last season. Chloe Reimer who was our serving defensive specialist, who played some quality minutes at leftside as well. Chloe will be battling with Lindsay for the starting libero spot. This will be a fun match up to watch. Tori Dakin a left side who we have big expectations for, who also showed flashes of brillance last year.
This year we had a tremendous recruiting year, Niki Friesen a local athlete who jumps out of the gym. In the last testing Niki touched 10'1". She is one of the top outside attackers in Manitoba and arguably the country. Shanlee Mclennan is another top recruit in Canada. Shanlee is a 6'1" left side attacker from Winnipeg. Shanlee and her partner won the Western Canada Summer Games Beach this August, so we know she is tall, athletic, and with good ball control. Also rounding out the athletic outside attackers is Brianna Walsh from Calgary. Brianna is a very athletic player who has a strong jump. Brianna is very cerebral, she understands the game at a different level. Brianna grew up in a family of volleyball players, with her parents and her uncles and aunts being coaches and players. So she has had the opportunity to learn the game at many different levels. Setting we have Jenna Poole from Winnipeg, Jenna has a strong quick release. Jenna seems to be a very positive person who has a strong love for the game. With her playing club with Niki the last season, there is a good comfort zone for both of them already. We also have another defensive specialist in Laura Popplestone. Laura is another Brandon product who comes from a family of athletes. Laura has played volleyball for many years, but she also played many other sports at the same time. this is her first time focusing on one sport. We are interested to see how she develops over this season. That is what I mean athletic recruiting class. Last year was a strong class, but this group was stronger. Our future looks bright for many years to come.
That is the basic make up of our team, young but extremely athletic. I know we are going to be right in the thick of the playoff hunt again, so how our team gels together and how fast our young players can play with poise will determine our fate. This is why I love coaching every year brings new hope and a new set of challenges. WE have tryouts this week and start for real this weekend. I can't wait to get going.
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