RDP Queens Volleyball adds experience as they load up for historic year

Red Deer, October 5, 2023 – After a year of rebuilding, the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Volleyball program is loaded up and ready for a year full of big swings, huge blocks and outstanding digs.

The Queens started off last year with some questions unanswered, but as the season moved forward, the team really improved and peaked at the right time. They managed to finish second in their division during the regular season behind the Ambrose University Lions. At the ACAC Championship, the Queens came away with a bronze medal on their home court after defeating the Lethbridge College Kodiaks in a five-set thriller.

Now, Queens Head Coach Talbot Walton wants to help his returning players use that experience as a stepping stone to improve on that bronze medal.

Walton feels blessed to return 10 players from the 2022/2023 campaign as they fit into the team's long-term plan over the next couple of years. A few student-athletes will be key to the squad's success this year.

"Frankie Sandini's defending and passing responsibility will be a key component for our group this upcoming season. Jaiden Ferguson played a huge role throughout the year as she filled in and did some heavy lifting for us when we needed someone to step up to the plate. Lastly, having Emma Letkeman, Dani Wiens and Maria Brouwer, three collegiate-experienced setters is such a good problem to have as each one of them can win us a lot of volleyball."

Letkeman, an alum of the Queens Volleyball program, played for the University of Alberta Pandas in the 2022/2023 season but has returned to Red Deer alongside another former Panda and Queens Volleyball alum Emma Holmes.

Walton explained adding these two veteran volleyball players was a no-brainer for the coaching staff.

"Emma Letkeman and Emma Holmes both had success with us when they played for the Polytechnic. They are comfortable with our program and were able to finish some academic pieces that were a part of their long-term plan. Anyone who wants to come back and play with us after moving on just adds a huge experience piece on top of the returning players."

The Queens coaching staff also was able to recruit outside-hitter Rachel Perry (Business Diploma) who they had their eyes on when she was in grade 12. Unfortunately, she signed with the Grant MacEwan Griffins, where she played for two seasons. She picked up a total of 69 kills, 80 digs and 24 blocks.

Walton, a five-time ACAC Coach of the Year, is also very excited about middle-blocker Raya Roesler (Practical Nursing Diploma) because she has a lot of upside to her game and will be a good fit for Queens Volleyball down the road.

Lastly, the Queens Head Coach was able to recruit three local athletes from Red Deer. Libero Maddy Dezutter (Bachelor of Education) and outside-hitters Nadia McKeage and Marin Walton (Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences) all played together at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School where they won back-to-back 4A Provincial Championships. This trio of student-athletes also played for the Queens Volleyball Club where they also had a lot of success. Walton has always been quite impressed with the volleyball talent that is produced in central Alberta.

Putting all these pieces together, Walton believes he now has a lot of depth and balance that the program has not seen over the past few years.

"I think we have finally found a balance in our athletes where we can graduate a couple, then have athletes underneath them filling those roles in the following year. Maybe, we'd just have to recruit one or two first-year student-athletes on a regular basis just to level things out."

As the RDP Queens prepare for the start of the regular season on October 13, they will also have the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Women's Volleyball Championship on their radar. The Polytechnic and the City of Red Deer will play host to the top eight teams in the nation from March 6-9, 2024.

The head coach of the Queens explained it really has not sunk in that they will be hosting such a prestigious event.

"We have been so busy over the last couple of weeks that we have not really thought about it. But I know in their minds, they are excited. A lot of them remember what it was like to host the CCAA Men's Championships here in 2019 and they all thought about how cool it would be to host the women's event."

Walton added that the Queens recognize they have a lot of talent this year. It will be a competitive group and they are excited to see just how far the team can go.

The Polytechnic will play host to the Olds College Broncos in their season and home opener on Friday, October 13. The match will start at 6 pm. This day will also mark the first day the tournament passes go on sale for the national championships.

Ticket packages for this prestigious event can be purchased online as well as passes to their opening match-up against the Broncos.