MVB | Rattlers Take Bite Out of Kodiaks

Oct 13, 2017 – Following an emotionally charged win in the women's game, the Kodiaks men's team looked to also snag a win in their season opening match against Highway 3 rival Medicine Hat College. Unfortunately for the Kodiaks, they were unable to overcome a medley of missed opportunities while dropping a 3-1 decision against the perennially strong Rattlers 3-1 (25-17, 21-25, 25-22, 27-25).

The Kodiaks had a slow start out the gate and the Rattlers were quick to take advantage, taking a big lead early on in the set, aided by Joao Pedro Freire who dominated the court with five kills early in the set. The Rattlers came out the set victors with a score of 25-17.

Feeding off one of the largest volleyball crowds in years at the Val Matteotti Gymnasium, the Kodiaks stormed back in the second set. Huge kills from Dax Whitehead and Carter Hansen led the Kodiaks offense as they evened the match with a 25-21 second set win. Hansen proved to be a powerhouse with five kills and four digs in the set.

The third set was an emotional rollercoaster as the Kodiaks got felt a 21-15 deficit, only to claw their way back to tie the set, largely lead by Whitehead with six kills. The Kodiaks offense was not enough to fend off the Rattlers, as Brodie Dolter crushed five kills of his own to help the Rattlers take the set 25-21.

The Rattlers came into the fourth set with intensity but faced a tougher front than they were expecting, as the fourth set proved to be the closest of them all as the teams tied up the score at 24. A series of intense rallies lead to the Rattlers taking the set 27-25 and the match overall with a score of 3-1.

These two teams will now travel to Medicine Hat tomorrow for the second half of the season opening home-and-home. Women's first serve is set for 6 p.m., while the men will follow at 8 p.m.

Players of the game:

Rattlers – #15 Brodie Dolter (11 kills, 5 digs)

Kodiaks – #12 Dax Whitehead (15 kills, 10 digs)