Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Something has to give this weekend as the 0-8 MacEwan Griffins visit the 0-8 Brandon Bobcats in Canada West women's volleyball action.
"We're both 0-8 and we both want it," said MacEwan head coach Dusty Freimark of both teams looking for their first win of the season in matches on Friday (5 p.m. MT) and Saturday (4 p.m. MT, both Canada West TV). "So, it's going to come down to who's able to keep their composure and play with emotion, but not too much emotion because I think we both want it so bad. They're a scrappy team."
The Griffins have been unable to put it all together in a single match this season, offering glimpses of greatness mixed with error-filled and flat stretches that have cost them.
They're coming off a weekend sweep at home to the Calgary Dinos but did push them to five sets in the first match of the series.
"Going five with a team like the Dinos, there are definite things you can take away from it, but that's not enough," said Freimark. "You can't expect greatness when you just see glimpses. We know what we're capable of. Now I just need their hearts and their heads to believe, and it just has to be an all-the-time thing.
"I said to them, 'you think losing is hard? Wait until you start winning. That's hard.' I think they just have to decide who they want to be. Sometimes that takes time, but I feel it's time for them to know who they are and what they want to accomplish."
In other words, Freimark wants their hearts and their will. Because you know the Bobcats, who are coming off a weekend sweep against Manitoba, will be looking to seize the opportunity for their first win of the season.
"I'm looking for some heart and hustle," said Freimark. "I know that's cliché, but at the end of the day, no one feels bad that we're 0-8. No one's going to hand us a win, no one's going to make us look good, so we have to be the ones that take it.
"I talked to the girls about using their talons. I know it's symbolic for the Griffins, but you have to come to play. There has to be more than grit, there has to be that desire, that passion, that want. You have to want to win. And that's what I want to see from the girls this weekend."
