Domoney reaches milestone as Queens sweep Rattlers in final match

Brent Forster - RDC

Red Deer, AB – As the RDC Queens dropped the Rattlers in the final regular season match, a significant accomplishment was achieved by Queens libero Kaylee Domoney. The talented defender climbed over 1,000 career digs in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC).

While Queens Head Coach Talbot Walton didn't think Saturday afternoon's match against the Medicine Hat College Rattlers was as clean as Friday's, the home team still managed to drop the visitors in three sets (25-19, 25-16 and 25-21), as two graduating student-athletes were recognized.

"It didn't quite go as well as yesterday," explained Walton. "Yesterday seemed everything was rolling pretty well. Today, at times, was a little bit of a struggle."

Fourth-year outside hitter Erin Neufeldt was named the Collegiate Sports Medicine Queens Player-of-the-Game, totaling 14 kills, five digs, two aces and one stuff.

"We are thankful that Erin had a big match again and put away points for us," said Walton. "Same thing with Emma Holmes. Both scored really well."

Outside hitter Emma Holmes accumulated ten kills, five digs and one ace. Tess Pearman and middle McKenna Olson added seven kills each. Setter Emma Letkeman finished with 34 assists.

Amber Stigter received the top player award for the Rattlers. She had eight kills, four digs, two stuffs and an ace. Brooke Christie had seven kills.

Stigter and Neufeldt

The RDC Queens fired eight service aces and only six errors. The Rattlers recorded four aces and three mistakes from the line.

"I still thought we did a pretty good job of serving the ball," said Walton. "We served better today than yesterday."

Kaylee Domoney added nine digs and surpassed 1,000 in her ACAC career (1,005).

"That's just a huge number of digs when you think about that being accomplished in four seasons. Got to give a tremendous amount of respect to the effort that she puts in and the passion she has for that position," said Walton. "She gives us something that we can build off of, trust that she's going to be there and get those digs."

Domoney's contributions go beyond statistics.

"From a leadership standpoint and competitiveness, you're not going to find a better teammate than that," explained Walton. "She leads by example every single day in practice. I think she is a good key piece for the culture of Queens Volleyball."

The Medicine Hat College Rattlers will host the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women's Volleyball Championship from Feb. 27-29. The second place RDC Queens (21-3), from the south, will challenge the Lakeland College Rustlers (18-6), who finished third in the north, on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 8:00 pm.

"All the teaching is done, all the coaching is really finished," said Walton. It's just about us getting prepared and pursuing what we know is possible, and coming out and playing our best volleyball."

John Walsh Memorial Scholarship

Kaylee Domoney received the John Walsh Memorial Scholarship in Search of Excellence, which is given to dedicated student-athletes in their sport, who provide leadership in the community.

Graduating Queens

Setter Kelly Heinemann, a third-year Bachelor of Science student from Edmonton, will transfer to complete her degree, with the goal of becoming a doctor.

"I had the opportunity to work with Kelly a little bit, and more last year. Despite that injury that had her sidelined, I really got to know Kelly more as a person instead of always as a volleyball player," said Walton. "You could really get a sense that she has a passion for volleyball and is very academic. For her to have the season that she did coming off shoulder surgery, I'm really happy for how well she progressed throughout the season."  

Middle Brooke Ure, a second-year Bachelor of Kinesiology student from Summerland, will move on to pursue her studies in Sports Management.

"Brooke is one of those teammates that I always have to have on a team," said Walton "You want that athlete that has that joy and passion to play. I really appreciate what she brought from an energy standpoint."

Heinemann (2) and Ure (1)