Clippers take rematch over Queens

Brent Forster - RDC

Red Deer, AB – Despite dropping a four set decision to the Briercrest College Clippers (25-16, 23-25, 22-25 and 15-25), Queens Head Coach Talbot Walton was proud of the team's effort and performance. 

"The Queens played the way that they're supposed to play. We cut down on our service errors and passed the ball reasonably well, and hit the ball pretty good when we passed it well," explained Walton. "Those are all things that are part of the game plan, just a few little details that we have to get better at, and that's got to be the coaches' jobs."

The Queens served up six aces and only five errors. The Clippers responded with eight service aces and 14 errors.

The home team started extremely well, winning by nine points in the opening set. Only five points separated the squads over the next two sets.

"That was a match that we lost and they didn't win because our stats still look okay. We just didn't help ourselves in certain situations," said Walton. "In the first three sets we dictated the play the whole time and could have won those three. From a morale standpoint, we know that we can play with that team and any given day we can beat them."

Holmes (11)

Emma Holmes was named the Collegiate Sports Medicine Queens Player-of-the-Game. The second-year Bachelor of Kinesiology student stacked up 11 kills, seven digs and one stuff block. Setters Emma Letkeman and Kelly Heinemann combined for 39 assists, with Letkeman taking the bulk of the reps.

RDC's Tess Pearman added 11 kills, seven digs and four aces. Middle McKenna Olson had five of the Queens' eight stuff blocks.

Becky Garner received the top player award for the Clippers, contributing 14 kills, seven digs, five aces, two stuffs and an assist.

Briercrest College's Faith Buhler and Mikayla Benterud had ten kills each.

"I think we had them prepared fairly well and need to find a few things for us to get better at," said Walton. "That will take care of itself." 

The second place RDC Queens (19-3) will wrap up the regular season next weekend against the Medicine Hat College Rattlers (8-13) at home. On Friday, Feb. 21, the two teams will hit the court at 6:00 pm.

The Clippers (21-1) will play a two game series against the Kodiaks (7-14) in Lethbridge.