Kodiaks and Rattlers battle in 5 set thriller

The Lethbridge Kodiaks Headed in to the Snake Pit at Medicine Hat College to take on the Rattlers. Coming off a straight set victory the previous night, the Kodiaks looked to solidify a playoff spot with a win. The Rattlers, out of the playoff picture, looked to play spoiler wherever they could. The Visitors were able to jusp out to an early 7-3 lead with the help of some blocking and defense. Another sloppy mistake from the Rattlers saw the Kodiaks get another and forced Medicine Hat to burn an early timeout. The Kodiaks took another point out of the break before the Rattlers could respond. From here the Rattlers started to slowly chip away at the lead, the score 11-7. The Kodiaks got hot from the service line and came up with 3 aces busting out to a 18-11 lead. With the big lead the Kodiaks cruised to a first set victory 25-14 

The second set started with the teams trading side-outs all the way up to 6-6. Long rallies and scramble digs were the theme of the early set. Lethbridge opened up a small 2 point lead at 9-7 but was short lived with an immediate Rattler response. The teams once again started trading side-outs until the Kodiaks once again strung together 2 serves going up 15-12. Medicine Hat responded and the teams got back into trading serves and points. Nearing the end, the Kodiaks once again exploded and took a 23-19 lead late in the set. Taking a timeout, the Rattlers looked to regroup. It was too little too late as the Kodiaks took the second set 25-21. 

The Third set opened with the Lethbridge bench on the floor. With this the Rattlers were able to start off with a 5-3 lead early. Able to extend through the early set, Medicine Hat went up 10-6 forcing Lethbridge to take a timeout. Coming out of the break the Kodiaks were able to regain composure but remained behind as the teams continued to trade points and serves. The Rattlers continued to pad their lead late, opening up a 19-13 lead on the back of 3 straight points. Finally the Kodiaks answered but trailed by 5 late in the set. The Kodiaks started to come back getting within 3, 21-18 before the Rattlers scored again. Down only 2, the Kodiaks has grabbed some momentum. Hopping to squash this, Medicine Hat took a timeout. The Rattlers came out of the timeout scoring 2 straight and putting a stranglehold on the set. Winning 25-21 the Rattlers extended the match to a fourth set. 

With the starters back on, Letbridge jumped out to a 4-1 lead early in the set. The teams started trading side-outs with very short rallies if at all. The Kodiaks gained 3 more points on aces as they jumped out to an 11-5 lead. As the teams traded points the board red 12-6 with the Kodiaks firmly in control. The Rattlers slowly started to chip away, winning a few long rallies and bringing the score within 3, 13-10. Sensing the pressure, the Kodiaks made a sub and scored the next 2 to re establish their 5 point cushion. The Rattlers once again took a timeout and came out of the break starting their comeback. The home side quickly got the score within 2 at 20-18 before another Kodiak miss saw the lead down to one. Finally able to break the serve, the Kodiaks quickly gave the Rattlers back the serve on an error. A Rattler ace saw the score level at 21 and the Kodiaks forced to take a timeout. Out of the break Lethbridge took a quick side-out only to be answered from the Rattlers. The Kodiaks took a huge point off a block late to go up 24-22. The Rattlers responded with 2 point of their own to tie it up at 24. Another Rattler point off a long rally saw them go up 25-24. Tied again at 25, the teams were deadlocked at the end of the set. The Rattlers pulled ahead and finished the set 28-26 forcing a 5th and deciding set. 

The fifth set started with the Kodiaks jumping out to a 3-1 off a Rattler error. They added another off a huge block and took control of the set. Another Rattler error saw them down 5-1 and forced to take a timeout. Coming out of the break the Rattlers made another error and went down 5 in a crucial short set. The Rattlers started to slowly chip away at the Kodiak lead but still down 6 they had a ways to go. Another quick 3 points and the Rattlers had reduced the Kodiak lead to 3, 11-8. A quick 2 points from Lethbridge made the score 13-8 and the Rattlers took their second timeout. A Kodiak serve into the net gave the Rattlers hope as they came up with the next point as well. Coming all the way back the Rattlers trailed 13-12 with the serve, forcing Lethbridge to take a timeout. Trading side-outs the teams inched closer, the Rattlers tied the set at 14 and the Kodiaks took their second timeout. Scoring first out of the break, the Kodiaks had a chance to serve for the match. Medicine Hat came up with a stop and tied it again at 15. The Kodiaks were able to string the final 2 points together to take a 17-15 5th set victory.