Red Deer Polytechnic Kings split weekend series with Clippers at Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

Brent Forster – Red Deer Polytechnic Athletics

Red Deer, AB – Not much separated the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings and Briercrest College Clippers Saturday afternoon.

In another match that went the distance, the visitors capitalized on outside hitter Karym Coleman's 31 kills and edged a young Kings lineup in five sets (25-21, 22-25, 21-25, 26-24 and 15-9).

Four first-years (Brett Lower, Nicholas Possingham, Dante Furlan, and Kyle Rix) started the match, along with second-year setter Brett Theise and second-year middle Dillon Gauci. Third-year libero Jonathan (JJ) Graham rotated in.

Once again, the Kings were without the services of veterans Cody Boulding, Reece Lehman and Maddux Greves.

"All in all it was a good weekend, considering what we started with – nine players and down a bunch of starters," said Aaron Schulha, Red Deer Polytechnic Kings Volleyball Head Coach. "In the first set, we did a much better job of coming out with energy, but we gave that set away."

After dropping the first set 25-21, RDP won the next two (25-22 and 25-21).

"We ended up building a 2-1 lead and had our opportunities in the fourth, so that's a little bit hard to take," said Schulha. "The youth on the floor showed through at times and a couple of our veteran guys let a few plays go at times as well."

Briercrest College captured the fourth set 26-24 in a tight battle, forcing a final set.

Red Deer's Lower (5)

"The difference early in the fifth set was that they were able to pull away with a few big energy, defensive transition points," explained Schulha. 

Theise was selected the North Star Sports Kings Player of the Game, accumulating 48 assists, two digs and two kills.

Theise (2)

"I thought Brett was doing a good job of mixing up our offence – running some guys inside and getting the hot hand when we needed it. Setting Lower when we probably should set Lower," said Schulha.

"He played two pretty good matches. He missed a few sets here and there, but for a guy who doesn't see the floor a lot, playing behind Maddux, I thought he played like a third-year which was nice to see. He did his job."

RDP's first-year Lower contributed 25 kills and 10 digs for the Kings. Rookies Possingham (15 kills) and Furlan (12 kills) added to the offence.

Possingham (6)

Coleman received the top player award for the Clippers.

"They are a good team with a lot of firepower, number 11 [Coleman] in particular. You know what you're going to get," said Schulha.

"He's going to get a lot of volume and he doesn't really tire out, and he can hit multiple angles. He's got a very live arm, so even if you think you are in the right spot blocking wise, he sees the block really well and moves it around."

Davis Borden had 12 kills and Noah Dirsten added 10 for the visitors. Briercrest's setter Jeremy Martens totaled 54 assists, 13 digs, one ace, one kill and a block.

The Clippers recorded four service aces. The Kings had two.

The second seed Clippers (8-2) will entertain the Ambrose University Lions (2-9) on Friday, February 4 at 8 pm.

The first place Red Deer Polytechnic Kings (10-2) will challenge the Trojans (6-4) on Thursday, February 3 in Calgary at 8 pm.