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The Gutter RDP Athlete of the Week for November 20, 2023

Despite just playing one match this weekend, Queens setter Dani Wiens had an outstanding match on both sides of the court in their three-set win against the Concordia University Thunder.

Coming off a three-set loss to The Kings University Eagles, the Queens were really looking to bounce back with a dominant performance and so they did. RDP managed to sweep the Thunder in three straight sets (25-19, 25-18, 25-15) to improve to 7-2 on the season and sit at the top of the South Division with one match left to go in 2023.

In the match, Wiens was named the player of the match for her outstanding 39 assists and 12 dig performance.  This averaged out to 13 assists per set which is incredible, but it was not a match or career-high for the setter out of Regina. Earlier this season, she had 44 in their four-set win against the SAIT Trojans and this past February, she tied the RDP single-match record for assists with 57.

Head Coach Talbot Walton said this was a pretty impressive feat and explained Wiens started out the set strong which led to her running an effective offence throughout the rest of the match.

“Thirteen assists per set is huge for a setter. Dani got into the groove of the game in the early goings of the match and was able to move our hitters around to find some gaps to attack in. But she was also big for us at the net, blocking balls as well as going on runs from the service line.”

She now sits in seventh place in the conference in assists, averaging seven per set with the ACAC leader just under 10. The Queens will hit the road this weekend for a clash with the Lethbridge College Kodiaks.

Congratulations Dani and keep running the efficient offence like we know you can!

Mr. Mikes RDP Athlete of the Week for February 13, 2023

After a 55-assist performance, this past weekend and her team clinching second place in the South Division, setter Dani Wiens is named the Queens Athlete of the Week. In her rookie season, Wiens appeared in seven matches. This season, she nearly tripled those appearances and started in all 19 matches of the 2022-2023 campaign. She has a total of 588 assists on the season and even tied for the most assists in one match with 57 against The Kings University Eagles on January 14. This record is held by fellow Queens Volleyball player Bronwyn McIntyre (Hawkes), who also had 57 assists back in 2014-2015.

Head Coach Talbot Walton explains the Regina native was one of the most consistent players this past weekend.

“Dani has run the offense consistently and has made her hitters better. She is currently number three on the ACAC assists leaderboard and has been above that average for the past four matches. She is also serving, blocking, and digging above her season average as well.”

The average Walton is speaking of is 8.28 assists-per-set but just in the second semester alone, she is around nine per game. Wiens and the Queens will be off this weekend as they prepare and defend their championship from last year on February 23-25, 2023 in the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.

Congratulations Dani on tying the record for most assists in a match and we will be cheering you and the Queens on in a couple of weeks!