Toze and Kings grind out win over Lions

Brent Forster - RDC

Red Deer, AB - The Ambrose University Lions made the Kings work Friday evening. Despite not having their cleanest match of the season, the Kings persevered with a four set decision (25-20, 22-25, 25-17 and 25-21) at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.

"A lot of it was ugly. Even in the first set, we were talking on the bench that it looked very scrambly," says Aaron Schulha, Kings Head Coach. "A lot of out of system stuff. We started out pretty well. Our first six to eight points were pretty solid and then we got away from what we were doing well. We had a good week of practice, so I wasn't expecting that." 

RDC setter Thomas Wass (33 assists) successfully connected with Patrik Toze most often.

Toze, a six-foot-four outside hitter from Brisbane, led both teams with 14 kills. He added three aces, two digs and one stuff block, and was named the Collegiate Sports Medicine Kings Player-of-the-Game. Carter Hills totaled 11 kills and Ben Holmes added ten. 

Holmes (10)

Ambrose University setter Jared Vanderzwaag recorded 24 assists, seven digs, two stuffs, two kills and one ace.

Middle Stephen Jones received the top player award for the Lions. Jones contributed eight kills and one stuff block, while hitting for 0.286 per cent efficiency. 

"They played well," says Schulha. "Their six-foot-ten middle (Jones) was a little bit of a difference maker today."

Teammate Adrian Strandberg chipped in with eight kills. Nikita Marchenkov had five for Ambrose.

"Between missed serves and attack errors, you are not going to beat good teams in this league," says Schulha. "We can't expect to be a top team in the south and miss 21 serves and only hit for 23 per cent efficiency. We were a little bit out of whack today, for whatever reason."

The Kings fired five aces. The Lions responded with four. 

On Saturday, Jan. 25, the RDC Kings (11-4) and Lions (1-16) will meet at 8:00 pm down south.

"We know we will have to be better tomorrow in their gym," says Schulha. "We will have to tweak a few things and prepare well."

Make Some Noise for Mental Health

As sponsors of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) initiative, Make Some Noise for Mental Health, RBC representatives were at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre, and as long-time supporters of the College, they generously donated $1,000 for mental health initiatives.

RDC Athletics will use those funds to help host a free financial literacy workshop in February for Red Deer College students. In general, post-secondary learners indicate that finances are one of their biggest stressors.

"We want to make sure that we are supporting the community. The awareness is the key part of mental health," says Kelly Treleaven, Branch Manager of Gaetz and Piper North RBC Branch. "If we don't bring it to everyone's attention, it doesn't come out. We want to make sure we are part of that."

RBC has been a long-time supporter of the College. They have provided significant funding to the College's Student Ambassadors Program, RDC scholarships and the Student Emergency Bursary.

Ben Holmes with RBC representatives and Rufus