Look forward to alumni game on Saturday

GISS’ senior boys volleyball team is following up its stellar 2008/09 season with a solid start this fall, said longtime coach Kellie Booth.

The team participated in a tournament at G.P. Vanier Secondary in Courtenay over the weekend, taking fifth place.

“We had a particularly strong team last year that finished eighth at the provincials,” said Booth, who described that team as the strongest she’s coached in her 18-year coaching career.

“This year’s version is a solid team. We have some rookie players, but they’re very good.”

Last weekend’s tournament saw strong play from veteran players Graham Wrigley, KC Knight, Drew Storey and Evan Henshall.

Booth noted consistent serving from Charlie Holmes and Aaron Kyle.

Luc Comeau as libero gave some “terrific back-row play.”

Davis Grasky did a good job as setter.

“He’s a rookie player and the setter has a lot of responsibility on a volleyball team. He did a terrific job,” said Booth.

Booth also noted the positive contribution made by “junior phenom” Jackson Sweetnam, a Grade 9 student who filled in for a missing senior player for the tournament.

Booth had seen Sweetnam play with the junior team a number of times and felt he was able to make the step up.

Salt Spring players have shown to good advantage in recent years.

Chris Howe, who played with the senior boys as a starting middle player last season, is now playing with UBC’s Okanagan campus team.

Current GISS senior Knight has already received a number of offers to play at the next level when he goes to college or university.

This coming weekend the Salt Spring boys will travel to Parklands Secondary in Sidney on Friday and then host an alumni game against last year’s GISS seniors.

The game takes place from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and is open to the public.

GISS then hosts the North Island Championships over the weekend of Friday, Nov. 13 and Saturday, Nov. 14.