Rattlers win first of season over Trojans

With exemptions being lifted, the Gym in Medicine Hat was packed to see the Rattlers take on the SAIT Trojans. The first set opened with the teams trading points as the score climbed slowly. Neither team was able to gain any significant advantage or momentum early especially with mistakes coming on both sides of the net. The score was knotted at 9 and the Rattlers made 2 quick points off an ace and a block. Sensing a momentum shift, the SAIT bench took their first timeout. The teams came out of the break getting back to trading serves and side-outs. A Rattler error saw SAIT able to tie it up at 12 before another quick point regained them the lead. On the next Rattler serve the Trojans had their own error relinquishing the lead once again. Deadlocked at 14, both sides looked to clean up their errors in an effort to swing the momentum in their favour. The Trojans won a long rally to keep the Rattler lead at 1, not letting the home side build any sort of lead. A few sloppy plays from the Trojans saw Medicine Hat go up 2, 19-17 late in the set. SAIT battled back with 3 quick points helped by a Rattler error to go up 20-19. The Rattlers bench took their first timeout at this point. The Trojans were able to hold serve again out of the break to increase their lead at a crucial point in the set. Another Rattler error gave the Tojans a 2 point cushion before they could make a side out. The home side was down 23-20 and again looked to the timeout to attempt a comeback. With 3 quick points the Rattlers were able to come back and tie the set at 23 resulting in a Trojans timeout. The Rattlers with a tricky serve forced a freeball and capitalised to earn a chance to serve for the set. They missed, and the score was tied at 24. A Rattler attacking error saw the Trojans with their own chance to serve for the game. Only needing one chance the Trojans took the first set 26-24. 

The second set started much like the first with the teams trading early quick side-outs. The Trojans were able to string together 3 serves and open a 5-2 lead. Carrying their advantage through the initial stages, SAIT was ahead 10-7. Medicine Hat continued to commit errors whenever they seemed to gain any momentum, frustrating their efforts. The Trojans expanded their lead and were able to go up 13-8 before Medicine Hat could call a timeout to regroup. Another error out of the timeout saw the Rattlers slip further behind before a Trojans serving error earned the back the serve. From here Medicine Hat went on a roll, bringing them back quickly to only down 1, 14-13. Sensing a change in momentum SAIT took their first timeout. The Trojans quickly scored out of the break, but Medicine Hat stayed right with them. A huge block from the Rattlers saw them take the lead 17-16 forcing SAIT to take a timeout. The Rattlers once again made a huge block out of the timeout and held a lead late in the set. Following this with an Ace, Medicine Hat expanded their lead to 3. A long rally won by the Rattlers on the next point saw them pull further ahead. This momentum seemed to demoralise the Trojans who appeared dejected. Medicine Hat took advantage of this pulling ahead 24-17 with a chance to serve for the win. They needed 2 shots but took the second set 25-18 forcing a minimum of 4 sets. 

The third set started with Medicine Hat scoring 3 quick points to start the set before the Trojans could answer. A quick ace from SAIT saw them quickly back in the set. The teams got in the rhythm of trading side-outs as the set moved out of the initial stages. SAIT was able to take some momentum and tie the set at 7. A Trojan miscommunication gave the Rattlers an undeserved ace. They used this to gain momentum and block the next Trojan attack. This saw the home side re-establish their 3 point lead, going up 10-7. This saw the Trojans take a timeout. Medicine Hat extended the lead again, now 12-7. This saw the Trojans bring some subs into the game in an effort to change the momentum of the set. The Rattlers continued to catch lines while the Trojans continued to commit errors. Down 17-9 the SAIT bench had seen enough and took their second timeout of the set. The Trojans looked scrambly and lost in the set, not seeming to communicate or execute at the level they had displayed in the first set. The Rattlers went up 20-12 and had a firm control of the set. Cruising to a third set victory, Medicine hat won 25-14 and went up 2 sets to 1. 

The Rattlers were able to carry their momentum over through the first 3 points of the set. The Trojans answered but the Rattlers quickly made a side-out and another ace to make it 5-1. Another ace from the home side saw their lead grow to 5. The set settling down, the teams traded side-outs as the Rattlers held a significant advantage early. Maintaining their lead, Medicine Hat held a 12-6 advantage forcing the Trojans to take their first timeout early in the set. The home side scored again quickly out of the break but a Trojans side-out broke serve. Another quick 2 points from the Rattlers saw SAIT take another timeout down 16-7. A Trojan error gave Medicine hat the next point followed up by a huge Rattler block. The Majority of SAIT's points were coming off tips and soft attacks at the net. Most big swings were met with a Rattler Block. The squads started to trade side-outs as the Rattlers neared 20 points and the Trojans sneaking into double digits. Now 20-11, the Rattlers looked to quickly finish off the set. The Trojans would not roll over and battled for every point bringing the score back to 23-18 late in the set. Medicine Hat sensing a small momentum shift called a timeout in an effort to put the match away. Medicine Hat was able to win their first match of the year 3-1 with the final set 25-20.