The Queens sweep the Kodiaks in three straight while the Kings fall in a five-set thriller in Lethbridge
Lethbridge, November 24, 2023 – The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens swept the Lethbridge College Kodiaks in three straight sets while the Kings dropped their first match of the season in a five-set thriller.
See below for more information regarding each match.
Queens Volleyball – Queens 3 at Lethbridge College Kodiaks 0
After some costly errors by the Kodiaks and some outstanding serves from the Queens, RDP would take a 21-18 lead into Lethbridge's first timeout of the match. The Queens would take the first set 25-21 following a double block formed by setter Dani Wiens (Bachelor of Arts in Psychology) and middle-blocker Autumn Roos (Bachelor of Education).
The Queens got off to a great start that saw them take a 5-1 lead in the early goings of the second set after some great serves by Roos. But the Kodiaks would go on a run small run of their own to come within one point of RDP. Outside-hitter Morgan Boisvert (Bachelor of Arts in Psychology) was incredible from the service line as she helped her Queens take a five-point lead halfway through the set. Outside-hitter Rachel Perry (Business Administration) would end the set with one of her seven kills on the match to help her Queens to a 25-19 victory.
Outside-hitter Emma Holmes (Bachelor of Science in Biological Science) was serving the ball tough against the Kodiaks in the third set to help her Queens jump out to a five-point lead. But this lead was slowly diminished by the Kodiaks and they managed to tie it up at 10. After the Kodiaks tied it up at 15, the Queens would score five unanswered to take a 20-15 lead into Lethbridge's timeout. Following an ace by Boisvert from the service line, the Queens would take the match in three sets with a 25-17 final score in the third.
The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology student-athlete was named the Queens player of the match. Boisvert finished with five kills, three service aces and four digs while earning her team eight points throughout the match.
These two teams will rematch tomorrow afternoon at 1 pm in the Queens last match of the 2023 year.
Kings Volleyball – Kings 2 at Lethbridge College Kodiaks 3
After the Kings took a four-point lead late in the opening set of the match, the Kodiaks managed to come within two of the visitors. But the Kings bounced back and would earn the next two points to take a 19-15 lead into Lethbridge's timeout. Facing set point, the Kodiaks would call a timeout. They would earn the point out of the short break but after a solo block from middle Spencer Purdie (Open Studies), the Kings would take the first set 25-21.
But the Kings would come out slow in the second following a hot start by Kodiaks outside-hitter Nolan Moes from the service line. Moes is near the top of the conference in kills as well as service aces per set. The Kodiaks continued their strong ways in the second set and managed to force the Kings to call a timeout with Lethbridge up 11-7. The Kodiaks tied the match up at one with a 25-19 set victory with Moes picking up a kill out of the back row.
But the Kings put the second set behind them and bounced back as they jumped out to a 16-12 lead which forced the Kodiaks to call a timeout. RDP cruised to a 25-18 victory in the third.
In an intense fourth set that went right down to the wire and each team exchanging kill for kill, the Kodiaks managed to force a fifth and final set as they defeated the Kings 28-26 in the fourth.
The Kings bounced back in just their second fifth set of the season and took a 9-6 lead into a Kodiaks timeout. But the Kodiaks would go on a 5-2 run to tie the match up at 11 which led to a timeout called by the Kings. On back-to-back points which includes the point to win it, the Kings were stuffed at the net and would drop their first match of the season with the Kodiaks taking the fifth set 16-14.
The Kings player of the match was awarded to libero Jonathan Graham (Bachelor of Business Administration) who finished the night with nine digs.
The Kings will look to avenge the loss against the Kodiaks tomorrow in the Polytechnic's final match of 2023. The match will start following the conclusion of the Queens match which starts at 1 pm.