Graduating Queens celebrate win in final match at RDC

Brent Forster - RDC

In their final regular season match, the Red Deer College Volleyball Queens competed against the Medicine Hat College Rattlers and it was another consistent effort as the Queens won in three sets.

The Rattlers took an early lead in the first set but Miranda Dawe reduced that gap by a point (6-7) with a powerful kill from the left side. After the teams were on even terms (10-10), the RDC Queens went on a 7-1 run to take a 17-11 advantage. McKenna Barthel finished that streak with a kill from the right side. With some strong blocking and effective distribution of the ball, the Queens eventually picked up a 25-15 win. McKenna Barthel was dominant in the opening set. The Business Administration Human Resources student from Red Deer totaled 8 kills, 4 digs and 2 block assists.

In the second set, Naomi Jardine made some key digs early which kept the Rattlers' offence in check. When the set was tied 6-6, McKenna Barthel went on a run from the service line, including back-to-back service aces, to propel the Queens up 13-6. The Rattlers tried to climb back into the set but kills from Miranda Dawe, Katrina Dawe and Megan Schmidt kept RDC ahead 21-15. The Queens capped off the second set 25-19.

The Queens took control early in the third set and they stayed aggressive. An ace from Hanna Delemont gave RDC a 6 point edge (11-5). Medicine Hat College provided some resistance but Jade Van Dyke recorded an ace, Miranda Dawe picked up a kill and a McKenna Barthel-Hanna Delemont block pushed RDC ahead 18-14. Eventually the RDC Queens completed the 25-18 victory.

Miranda Dawe was named the player-of-the-game for the Queens. The Kinesiology & Sport Studies student accumulated 12 kills, 1 assist, 1 service ace and 8 digs. Brooke Christie earned the honour for the Rattlers with 9 kills and 4 digs.

Queens Volleyball Head Coach Chris Wandler was proud of the effort and result. "It was probably even more efficient than last night," said Wandler. "The Rattlers played a little bit better which allowed them to hit the ball but we defended really well. I thought that we transitioned the ball effectively."

Wandler likes the calibre of volleyball that the Queens are playing, especially heading into the championships next weekend. "We played really well as a group. The student-athletes played well with each other and for each other, and this becomes an important piece of what we want to accomplish. It's a perfect time of year to be playing that way."

Setter Chanelle Kayser balanced out the Queens' attack. "Chanelle Kayser did an awesome job of spreading out the offence," said Wandler. "Miranda had 12 kills, Naomi and McKenna had 10 each, and some middles were sprinkled in there. It was a nice job of balancing everyone out."

Megan Schmidt, Miranda Dawe, Chanelle Kayser are in their fifth and final year while McKenna Barthel, Hanna Delemont and Naomi Jardine will be transferring to complete their education. "The solid win was a nice way to cap off their regular season at RDC. To end their last regular season game the way that they did, it leaves a good feeling with everyone. I am very happy for them and how they are working," said Wandler. "We are trending in the right direction heading into next weekend. We are playing at a pretty good clip."

Fifth-year Miranda Dawe appreciates her team and has several good memories of being a member of the RDC Queens.  "Probably my second national championship is one of my best memories. This is the RDC culture and everyone has a common goal," said Dawe. "My teammates are my closest friends and winning with them creates a deeper bond."

Dawe and the RDC Queens will shift their focus to the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women's Volleyball Championships in Camrose, February 22 to 24. The University of Alberta Augustana Vikings will host the event.

Graduating players

After the match, Red Deer College recognized the student-athletes who will be graduating and transferring from the Queens Volleyball program at the end of the season. Naomi Jardine, Miranda Dawe, Megan Schmidt, Hanna Delemont, Chanelle Kayser and McKenna Barthel were presented with a framed picture and flowers.

Britt Davis received the 2017 – 18 Jon Walsh Memorial Queens Volleyball Scholarship in Search of Excellence. Davis is a second-year Kinesiology & Sport Studies student from Sherwood Park.