Impact of the Queens hosting the national championship is far-reaching

Red Deer, AB – It was a quick and challenging 22 hour turnaround for the Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) Queens at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women's Volleyball National Championship.

Friday evening, the Queens were within a few points of advancing to the gold medal match, but were edged by the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners in a hard-fought five set marathon. Then the Queens had to quickly try to refocus on Saturday's bronze semi-final against the Nordiques de Lionel-Groulx when they had aspirations of winning a national title on their home court.

"Having played two good matches already this tournament and the way that the one last night went for us, reproducing emotion is difficult," said Talbot Walton, RDP Queens Volleyball Head Coach. "It just looked like LG had more emotion in their game tonight."

The Nordiques got by the Queens in four sets (30-28, 25-20, 18-25 and 25-16), advancing to the bronze medal match against the Humber Hawks.

"We came out and played well in the third set," said Walton of 25-18 result.

"The ability to sustain emotion when we were emotionless because of a semi-final loss is tricky," he added. "It's a lot to ask of young athletes who pour their passion into the sport for the past 80 plus practices and 40 plus games. It's a difficult one for them to muster up, for sure."

Perry (17)

Outside hitter Rachel Perry led the Queens with 13 kills. Red Deer's Emma Holmes accumulated 12 kills, 10 digs, one assist, one block and one ace while providing valuable leadership for the hosts.

Walton and Holmes (11)

Libero Francesca Sandini, who was named the 4imprint Queens Player of the Match, had 15 digs and three assists. Autumn Roos (nine kills) and Raya Roesler (eight kills) were strong out of the middle for the Polytechnic.

The Nordiques received a match-high 15 kills from Jade Genereux. Emma Waskiewicz contributed 12 kills. The 4imprint Nordiques Player of the Game Sandrine Methot added 10 kills for the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) Champions.

"Our processing will be some sadness now, both for being the end of the season and maybe not quite reaching the level that we were hoping to," noted Walton. "After a couple days, we can start thinking about how this weekend impacted us and use it over the next couple of seasons."

This year, the RDP Queens have eight student-athletes who are playing in their first or second years in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC).

"This is a young group. One of the pieces of having nationals here was to give exposure to some of our young athletes, so that they are prepared to go next year and the year after that and try to make it a habit of going to nationals," said Walton. "Even today, to realize the emotional piece of wanting and getting out there and doing the things that help you secure some points."­­­

While earning their fourth national title was the goal, the Queens wanted to embrace the entire experience of hosting this prestigious national event.

"We talked about making sure that we absorbed it [the atmosphere] and taking a look around once in a while and realizing where you're at and how this event was going to be more than just about us," added Walton. "It's an opportunity for our school to showcase – for us to host. Our Athletics department did a fantastic job."

The fan support has been incredible at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre. Perhaps nationals being held in Red Deer will inspire a child to follow in the footsteps of a member of the Queens.

"For that exposure and interaction with central Alberta and Central Alberta Girls Volleyball," noted Walton. "There's going to be a young athlete who was in the stands - five, six, seven, eight years from now who says I watched nationals here and now I'm playing for the Queens. That'll be something special when that day happens."

The Nordiques de Lionel-Groulx will face the Humber Hawks for bronze on Saturday, March 9 at 6 pm. The VIU Mariners will challenge the Lakeland College Rustlers for national gold at 8 pm.