The Queens avenge an early season loss with a quarterfinal win over the Huskies
Red Deer, February 23, 2023 – The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens got some revenge as they defeated the Keyano College Huskies in four sets.
A lot of volleyball has been played since these two teams faced off back in November when the Huskies defeated the Queens in three straight sets.
The Huskies came out of the gate fast very with their offense and defense on all cylinders. The Queens battled back briefly but Keyano would extend their lead to 11-6 before the Polytechnic would call a timeout. The Huskies digging game was sure on display in the middle of the opening set which saw four digs in a matter of seconds of each other. Red Deer Polytechnic picked things up later on in the first set as they battled back to within one point of Keyano College. Moments later, the Queens would take their first lead of the match with an ace from outside-hitter Jaiden Ferguson (Business Administration). The Queens would come back and take it 25-22 in the first set after a huge block by all-star middle Autumn Roos (Open Studies) in the middle.
Like the first set, the Huskies would start out strong with their offense working and their defense shutting down the Queens. But the Queens stayed in it as they continued to fight like they have shown all season long. After the Huskies stretched their lead to five late in the set, the Queens called a timeout. The Queens would fight off one set point but could not stop Huskies outside-hitter Lauren Huntley (Education) as she picked up her fifth kill of the match
The Queens put the energy back into the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre as they started the third set very well, jumping out to a 6-1 lead. Moments later the Huskies would call a timeout as the Queens continued their incredible offensive ways. This timeout sure changed the pace of the set as the Huskies picked up their game and got back into striking distance of the Queens. The match was delayed at 18-16 for the Queens due to a ruling on the play regarding an out-of-rotation violation. A huge block by Queens Sydney Rix (Bachelor of Education) in the middle helped her team take the third set 25-21.
With the Huskies facing their possible last set in the match, they went tit-for-tat with the Queens to open up the fourth game of the third quarterfinal of the day. The Polytechnic opened up the set as they took a 15-12 lead into a timeout called by the Huskies. The Queens would take the set and the match with a 25-18 fourth-set victory on a double block from Rix and Kira Weddell (Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences).
Head Coach Talbot Walton explained outside-hitter Jaiden Ferguson, who was named player of the match, was the biggest impact athlete in this upset win.
"Jaiden has not played much this second half due to some injuries so her coming back and being healthy for the championships means so much to this team. She played a very aggressive game at the net and served the ball very well."
Ferguson finished with 17 kills in the four sets. Huskies Tyneille Neufeld was named the player of the game who had 20 kills which was the highest amount of kills between both teams in this match.
The Queens will play the winner of the match between the Lakeland College Rustlers and the Briercrest College Clippers tomorrow at 8 pm. The loser of this match will play the Huskies on the relegation side at 3 pm.