Queen’s vs Manitoba: Take Five
story submitted by queen’s mothership photos by ed kung
When the snow stopped falling at the conclusion of the semi-final game with the University of Toronto, Queen’s did not even need to ask who the opponent might be in the finals. Throughout the two-day tournament in Ottawa, friends from other universities had often repeated the same sentiment: Manitoba was good, very good. It would be the third CUUC finals between Mothership and Toba in five years. The previous two had gone to the Prairies—a 15-11 win in windy 2011, and a 9-8 win in 2014, a game that appeared closer than it ever was. These losses weren’t just seen as failures, but opportunities for change. For Queen’s Mothership in 2015, change happened.
It began with a new coach. Pete Galbraith played competitive volleyball his entire life—culminating in a four-year stint with the Queen’s varsity volleyball team. His competitive attitude shifted to Ultimate in 2011 when he played on the Queen’s B team alongside three other eventual members of the 2015 Mothership group. After a single season, Pete moved up to the A team and is now a mainstay on the Kingston touring team, Local 613. He brought a new attitude
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to Queen’s Ultimate. Pete recorded stats for the entire CEUUC tournament, which meant personalized statistics informed players how they were contributing to—or hurting—the team. He made players accountable at practice. Most importantly, he brought cohesion and leadership to a team—and a sport—that has gone too long without coaches.
The composition of the 2015 Mothership team was also drastically different from other universities. Ten of the eighteen students who played in the finals began their playing career at Queen’s on the B team. Among the top four seeds at CUUC, Queen’s was the only team without someone who played for Team Canada U23 in the summer. This team mentality meant that the more experienced players—students who had played together for years in both the Canadian fall series and the USAU spring series—could play together on offense. Players who had less experience with each other played on the D-line, which featured a mischievous 2-3-2 defensive set.
The mentality to wear teams out over the course of a game was one that was difficult to adopt. Coach Pete often preached
patience while playing o while working together garner highlight reel pla statistically superior stra run. The stats substantia the finals, the Manitoba against the Queen’s defe During these points, Ma disc over only five time turned into Queen’s bre of the Queen’s zone was throws: 238 in total ove possessions, good for 17 an impressive 98% com The Queen’s offense, st less impressive numbers ten times, but also turne on 113 throws, good for percentage.
Over the course of the s fortunate enough to play universities. When Que by a score of 11-9 in in Qualifier, it was because was the stronger team. W offseason training impro players, the team benefi Contrary to 2014, the se
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