Red Deer Polytechnic Volleyball acknowledged at ACAC awards
Photo - Top Row (l-r): Raya Roesler (2), Francesca Sandini (4), Danielle Wiens (5), Emma Holmes (11), Autumn Roos (16); Bottom Row (l-r): Tom Wass (3), Noah Carlson (14), Coach Aaron Schulha, Spencer Purdie (17)
Red Deer, AB – Eight student-athletes and a head coach from the Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) Kings and Queens Volleyball teams have been recognized by the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC).
Raya Roesler, a middle blocker on the RDP Queens, has been named the ACAC Women's Volleyball South Rookie of the Year. Teammates Emma Holmes (outside hitter), Autumn Roos (middle blocker), Danielle Wiens (setter) and Francesca Sandini (libero) have made the ACAC Women's Volleyball South All-Conference team.
Aaron Schulha, RDP Kings Head Coach, has been acknowledged as the ACAC Men's Volleyball South Coach of the Year. Noah Carlson (outside hitter), Spencer Purdie (middle blocker) and Tom Wass (setter) from the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings have received ACAC Men's Volleyball South All-Conference selections.
"For RDP Kings and Queens Volleyball to receive nine ACAC Awards is quite an honour and it demonstrates the talent and success of both teams," says Randy Stewart, Manager, Athletics and Student Life. "The Kings and Queens continue to demonstrate a level of excellence that is recognized around the conference and across the nation."
Roesler, Holmes, Roos, Wiens and Sandini helped to guide the Queens (13-6) to second place in the South Division, qualifying for the playoffs. In 16 regular season matches, Roesler, who is a Practical Nurse student, contributed 70 kills (1.56 kills per set), 18 blocks, 13 digs, two service aces and two assists.
Red Deer's Holmes was one of the Queens' offensive leaders all season, ranking eighth in the ACAC with a 0.324 hitting percentage. Holmes, who is a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences student, totaled 156 kills (2.4 kills per set), 100 digs, 10 service aces, eight assists and five blocks. Ponoka's Roos led the league with 0.77 blocks per set. Over 12 matches, she added 66 kills with an impressive 0.594 hitting percentage, 20 digs and seven service aces.
As a Queens setter, Wiens ran an effective offence. In 16 matches, the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology student totaled 312 assists (6.93 assists per set), 57 digs, 18 kills, 13 service aces and seven blocks. Sandini has been a solid defender at the libero position all season. She recorded 195 digs (2.83 digs per set), 38 assists and one ace in 20 matches.
Once again, Head Coach Schulha has led the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings (16-3) to first place in the South Division and a berth in the playoffs. As one of the premier coaches in the league, Schulha has guided the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings to eleven ACAC medals (six gold, four silver and one bronze) and six Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) medals (three gold, two silver and one bronze). Schulha has been acknowledged as ACAC Coach of the Year three previous times.
Fourth-year Wass contributed 572 assists (7.94 assists per set), 78 digs, 54 kills, 16 blocks and 11 service aces as Kings' setter. Six-foot-six Carlson has been an impactful outside hitter for the Polytechnic. He accumulated 194 kills (3.29 kills per set) with a 0.423 hitting percentage, 48 digs, 32 blocks and 11 service aces. Six-foot-eight Purdie has been an imposing force at the net. The third-year student-athlete from Red Deer County had 73 kills, 26 blocks, 16 digs and five service aces during the regular season.
The RDP Queens will participate at the ACAC Women's Volleyball Championship in Lethbridge from February 22-25. Over the same three days, the RDP Kings will compete at the ACAC Men's Volleyball Championship in Olds.
Then, the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens will host the CCAA Women's Volleyball National Championship from March 6-9 at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.
For your convenience, you can purchase tickets for the national championship online.