The Queens victorious in their home opener against the Vikings
Red Deer, November 4 - It was a battle of two second place teams in tonight's ACAC matchup in central Alberta between the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens and the University of Alberta-Augustana Vikings. This is an interdivisional matchup which was just put in place this year in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference where throughout the season teams from the South Division with battle with teams from the North.
In the first set, it was back and forth between these Central Alberta teams with each taking a lead at some point in the set. The Vikings and the Queens were playing great volleyball at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre with big blocks, digs and kills on both sides of the court. But it was the Queens who pulled away late in the first set to take this one 25-20 after a kill error from the Vikings.
To start off the second set, it was a big double block from outside-hitter Jaiden Ferguson (Business Administration General) and third-year Kira Weddell (Bachlor of Science Biological Science) to put the Queens up 1-0. At 7-4, Camrose and Red Deer had a great rally with it lasting about a couple minutes before middle-hitter Autumn Roos (Open Studies) finished it off with a kill. It was the Vikings who would call a timeout first after the home team took a 10-9 lead. Moments after, Ferguson all by herself stuffed outside-hitter Addison Wolosuk. The visiting team battled back to take the second set 25-23 after a hitting error by the Queens.
Kicking off the third game, it was a great rally between the Vikings and the Queens which ended in a kill from Vikings Sarah Singular who put it off the block and out of bounds. The home team would break away from the Vikings 22-16. This would be the biggest lead of the match so far. The Vikings coach called a timeout to gather his team in hopes they could battle their way back into the match. To finish off the third set, it was another long rally with the Vikings trying to keep the set alive. It was a block from Roos in the middle that put the visiting team down two sets to one after a Queens 25-17 victory.
The fourth set was similar to the first one with a hard-fought game for both sides of the court. It was a close game with no team able to gain a big lead and was tied for most of the set. With set and match point on the line, Vikings coach called a timeout with his team down 24-22. But the home team took the fourth and final 25-23 with a kill from Sydney Rix (Bachelor of Education Middle School)
The players of the game went to outside hitter's Jaiden Ferguson from the Queens and Shae Boyes from the Vikings. Ferguson finished her night with 15 kills, two assists, and two aces. Boyes completed her night with 14 kills of her own and three digs.
The Queens will have next weekend off with their next match being in Fort McMurray to take on the Keyano College Huskies on Friday, November 18. On the other hand, the Vikings will also have next weekend off before taking the Olds College Broncos at home in Camrose on that same Friday.