5 set thriller
The men's teams took the court to a capacity crowd at the Snake Pit in Medicine Hat. Lethbridge Looked to seek revenge for a four-set loss at home the previous night. The first set saw back and forth action between both teams with neither one being able to gain a foothold of any serious momentum. The score flip flopped until 19 all when Avery Triggs held serve 3 times to create a small lead for the rattlers to squeak out a first set win 25-22
Some passing errors by the Rattlers early in the second set saw the Kodiaks jump out to an early lead. This lead was made even bigger with some great serving by Kodiak Carter Hansen with 2 aces while holding serve for 5. Lethbridge cruised to a second set win 25-16.
The third set was much more tightly contested. Lethbridge again jumped out to an early lead. A switch at the setter position seemed to spark Medicine Hat back into the game. The Rattlers pulled all the way back to within a few points but ultimately fell short again with the Kodiaks winning 27-25 on a big block.
The Fourth set saw another back and forth battle with neither team budging an inch. Medicine Hat got off to a quick start, but Lethbridge came right back to take the lead. The rattlers again subbed in a different setter and saw an immediate momentum shift. The Rattlers went on a 10-3 run and opened up a big lead. They were able to capitalize on a huge block to win the set 25-21 forcing a fifth set.
The crowd volume increased right at the start of the 5th set as the Rattlers jumped out to a 4-0 lead. This was short lived as Carter Hansen stepped up to serve for 3 points and tie the game. Trading serves back and forth, both teams worked slowly towards their goals. Captain Brodie Dolter helped the Rattlers Edge a 3-point lead at 10-7. The Kodiaks showed no quit with an impressive show of effort keeping balls alive all over the gym. Unfortunately it was too little too late as the Rattlers made an impressive kill to end the game 15-11