Queens defeat Clippers in 5 sets, capture 1st

In the final regular season match of the season, the RDC Queens faced the Briercrest College Clippers Saturday afternoon at the RDC Main Gym. Today, the Queens knew that the Clippers would push back after getting swept by RDC in straight sets on Friday. The winner of the match would capture 1st place in the ACAC Women's Volleyball South Division and play the 4th seed in the North Division in the playoffs on day 1.

The atmosphere in the RDC Main Gym was electric and had the feel of a playoff game. The Clippers took the opening set 25-19. Miranda Dawe and McKenna Barthel had 3 kills each for RDC. Samantha Zacharias led Briercrest College with 4 kills.

The 2nd set featured good stretches of play from both teams. As expected, the match was close in the early stages (7-7). The Queens started to pull away and when they led 15-11 Clippers' Head Coach Nolan Weinmaster called time out in an attempt to halt momentum. RDC outscored Briercrest College 10-8 and picked up the 25-19 victory. Over 2 sets, Ashley Fehr had 22 assists for the Queens. Ashley Zacharias accumulated 22 assists for the Clippers.

In the 3rd set, the RDC Queens jumped out to an early lead and never trailed. The Queens capped off a 25-16 victory to take a 2 set to 1 lead. Miranda Dawe and Megan Schmidt had a total of 11 kills each for the Queens. Samantha Zacharias led the Clippers with 12 kills.

The Clippers opened the 4th set on a 6-0 run. Briercrest College never trailed and picked up a 25-19 win to tie it up at 2 sets a piece. Miranda Dawe contributed a total of 13 kills for RDC. Samantha Zacharias led Briercrest College with 17 kills.

In the 5th and deciding set, not much separated the 2 squads in the beginning. It was tied in the early going (4-4), but the Queens went on an 11-3 run to win the set 15-7 and take the match.

Ashley Fehr was named the Queens player-of-the-game. The Bachelor of Education student contributed 49 assists, 2 stuff blocks and 8 digs. Miranda Dawe finished with 16 kills and 18 digs. For the Clippers, Samantha Zacharias accumulated 19 kills, 2 assists, 2 service aces and 6 digs.

Queens Volleyball Head Coach Chris Wandler appreciated the persistent victory.

"It was a test of resilience today. In the 5th set I told the team that we were lucky to be here. It's an opportunity to play in a game that means something and gets us set for next weekend," said Wandler. "The student-athletes did the simple things right in the 5th set. We didn't do those things in the 1st and 4th set. We have been doing a good job of not dwelling on the past and playing in the moment. It was important to pull out a meaningful game, build confidence and move forward."

Next week, the Queens practice and begin the playoffs on Thursday.

"We train on Monday, Tuesday and head off to Lloydminster Wednesday where we hope to do something special," said Wandler.

With the victory, the RDC Queens (21-3) seal 1st place in the South Division with 42 points and have won 16 straight matches. 

The RDC Queens' regular season is complete and they prepare for the ACAC Women's Volleyball Championship Feb. 23-25. Lakeland College will be hosting the event.

After the match, RDC recognized the graduating Queens players: Cherisse Johannson, Fauve Welsh, Lauren Marshall and Ashley Fehr.