Local girls are taking to the volleyball court and finding success.
Audrey DeBona and Darcy Bertram are coaching the newly formed U14 club volleyball team in Drumheller, bringing the sport back to the forefront.
“We are called the Smash. There are nine U14s on the team and three U13,” said coach DeBona. “Drumheller also has a U16 team coached by Shelby Lawson.”
“We just started this year. We have some parents on the board and they got the club going. The last few years kids have been going to Delia, Three Hills, and Calgary to play club.”
It looks like they have strong interest. So far the U14 Smash has attended a couple of invitational tournaments in Olds, Airdrie, and Strathmore. The team typically practices at least once a week. There are players from DVSS, St. Anthony’s and Morrin.
“They have premier tournaments. We have our first on the February 1 weekend in Calgary at Rally Point,” she explains. “You get tiered for when you go to provincials,” said DeBona.
There are also national tournaments and play can go as late as May.
In the small sample of games they have played they are competing at about a .500 level.
They are really good, actually,” said DeBona.
DeBona has been a long-time referee in the valley but decided to retire this year. She is finding coaching rewarding and lots of fun. She adds they have a strong board which is taking care of logistics for the team and it’s going smoothly.
