Queens edged by Rustlers, will face Eagles for bronze

Brent Forster - RDC

Friday evening at the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women's Volleyball Championship, the Red Deer College Queens put forth a good effort against the top team from the north, the Lakeland College Rustlers, but were edged in five sets at the University of Alberta Augustana campus. 

The Queens jumped out to an early lead in the first set. Naomi Jardine recorded a kill from the left side to push RDC up by 6 points (12-6). The Queens built upon their lead and went ahead 20-13 from a kill by All-Conference selection Miranda Dawe. Then McKenna Barthel picked up a pair of kills late in set and the Queens wrapped up a 25-16 win.

RDC followed that up with another strong set. While Lakeland College kept things close, the Queens earned a 25-21 victory in the second set.

Not much separated the two teams in the third set. It was tied on several occasions (6-6, 14-14 and 22-22) and the Rustlers eventually won 25-22.

The fourth set was tight once again. Miranda Dawe gave the Queens an early 5-3 lead with a kill from the left side. It was back-and-forth with several swings in momentum. The set was tied late (23-23) and the Rustlers squeaked it out 28-26 to send the match to a fifth and deciding set. 

After the fifth set was even 4-4, Lakeland College outscored RDC 11-5 and picked up a 15-9 match win. 

Libero Kaylee Domoney was named the player-of-the-game for the RDC Queens. The second-year Business Administration Human Resources student recorded 20 digs. Naomi Jardine led the Queens' offence with 18 kills. McKenna Barthel totaled 17 and Miranda Dawe had 13. Setter Chanelle Kayser stacked up 53 assists, 6 digs, 1 service ace, 1 kill and 1 stuff block.

Queens Volleyball Head Coach Chris Wandler appreciated the RDC Queens' work ethic in a very close game. "It wasn't the result that we were envisioning for our team but it wasn't from a lack of effort. It was a tight match versus a very good team and we came up a bit short," said Wandler. "I am very proud of this group and we will need to bring our Queens pride tomorrow in order to finish with a medal."

The RDC Queens will compete against The King's University Eagles for ACAC bronze, Saturday, February 24, at 1:00 p.m. in Camrose.

The Lakeland College Rustlers will face the Briercrest College Clippers for gold at 3:30 p.m. Both teams finished in top spot in their division with a 23-1 record in the regular season.