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Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference "To be Canada's premiere collegiate athletic conference by developing and inspiring leadership through excellence in academics, sport and citizenship"
Posted: Feb 23, 2023

Kings top Rustlers in fifth set to keep championship defence dreams alive

Kings top Rustlers in fifth set to keep championship defence dreams alive
Box Score
Game Leaders
LAKE
K: 2 Players (#13, #16) - 11
B: 2 Players (#11, #13) - 3
D: Jake Willick - 16
SA: 3 Players (#8, #13, #14) - 3
RDP
K: Noah Carlson - 33
B: Spencer Purdie - 5
D: Jonathan (JJ) Graham - 21
SA: Maddux Greves - 3
Team Stats
Full stats

The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings kept their championship defence hopes alive Thursday at the 2023 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference's (ACAC) Men's Volleyball Championships, defeating the Lakeland Rustlers in a five-set battle (21-25, 25-15, 23-25, 25-21, 16-14) at the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre in Fort McMurray, Alta. 

"Sometimes you've got to grind a little," Noah Carlson of the RDP Kings said. "They definitely fought hard; they're a hell of a team. Scrappy all-around. We kind of escaped with one there.

"It's that time of year. Everybody better be bringing everything, you always want the best game from your opponent. All you can hope to do is give them your best game." 

The Rustlers took the first set off the Kings, and the teams then traded sets until things got pushed to a fifth set. Like the five-set thriller in the afternoon before them, the Kings and Rustlers had a see-saw battle throughout the fifth set before the Kings finally secured the two-point advantage. 

Carlson collect 33 kills in the marathon match while Jonathan Graham had 21 of his team's 47 digs for the most of any indivudual on either side of the court. ACAC South Division Player of the Year Maddux Greves collected 47 assists and six digs throughout the lengthy match.

"We're fighting for our lives, right," Kings Head Coach Aaron Schulha said. "It gives us a chance to get back to the final, which is always the hope with our program.

"They gave us all we could handle."

The Rustlers received strong performances from Mason Short and Gustavo Lobato, who finished tied for the team lead with 11 kills each. Cameron Jones and aiden Maier each had nine kills as part of the match. 

Jake Willick led his side with 16 digs while Lane Blight added 46 assists in the Rustlers' setter role. 

The Rustlers will now face the Olds College Broncos in the 5th/6th semi-final tomorrow while the Kings will challenge the host Keyano Huskies for a spot in Saturday's championship match. 

Carlson took home Player of the Game honours for the Kings while Short collected the honours for the Rustlers.