TCI varsity boys look to repeat

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This article was published 07/10/2016 (3272 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A determined squad and some early success has the Transcona Collegiate Titans varsity boys volleyball team looking to make a repeat trip to the KPAC tier two finals.

Coach Chad Duffield only has three returning players from 2015’s championship team but credited all three for helping the rookies.

“The Grade 12s have come back and all have shown leadership,” Duffield said. “I’m really proud of them for that. Whether it’s guys getting the warmup going or getting things going on the floor too, they’re doing it.

“We started out the season 2-0 but we’re young and we know we have a long way to go.”

One of those veterans is Eddie Bashir, who is rising to the challenge of being a leader by being more vocal on the court, Duffield said.

“He’s talking more, getting guys going and doing a good job of leading guys on the floor. It’s out of his comfort zone but Eddie’s rising to that challenge.”

Even though it’s early in the season and his team is only beginning to come together, Duffield sees a style emerging.

“We’re scrappy on defence. There’s been three times this season where we’ve been down by eight points and won the set.

“They’re willing to play every point one at a time which is a really tough thing to coach, and a really tough thing to learn.”

Duffield said he sees improvement every set and the Titans are working toward a consistent, high level of play.

Stefan Petroman believes the Titans can repeat. The Grade 11 middle sees plenty of positives so far.

“I think we have a lot of potential as a team. We have the potential to win the championship,” Petroman said.

The Titans have room to grow, yet have few weaknesses as a team, Petroman added. One strength is how well the Titans communicate on the court.

“If you mess up a point don’t get mad at the person,” Petroman advised. “Tell them what to do the next time to get better. Encourage your players instead of beating them down.”

Petroman said Duffield has an easygoing manner but is serious about volleyball.

“I like the way he coaches. After the tryouts when I saw the team I knew he wasn’t playing around. I saw who he cut and who he kept on the team and saw he wanted to win.”

While a team stocked with Grade 11 players can allow a coach to think about a two-year run, Duffield isn’t counting his chickens yet.

“My concentration’s always on guys we have right now, how do we get better as a team, how do we perform better and help each other now. If all come back next year we can work on a higher level.

“Our goal is to go as far as we can in our league. The guys have their eyes on a great season and they want to compete for a championship.”

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