The Queens come up big to earn a bronze medal in Red Deer
Red Deer, February 25, 2023 – The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens capped off their 2022/2023 season with a bronze medal around their neck but they had to work for it as the Lethbridge College Kodiaks took them to five sets.
It was way back in November when these two teams last faced off against each other. The Queens managed to win six of seven sets to sweep the season series with the Kodiaks at home in the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.
Both teams were looking for some redemption after some tough losses last night. The Kodiaks lost in four sets to the University of Alberta-Augustana Vikings and the Queens were swept in three straight by the Lakeland College Rustlers.
Once again, the Kodiaks and Queens fans were very loud as they were cheering for their respective teams. Even though the Polytechnic were the host, Lethbridge College fans made the trek out to Red Deer and made their voices heard. It was split between the Kodiaks blue and the Queens green in the stands this afternoon.
As expected with a bronze medal on the line, it was going to be one great fight between these South Division rivals. The Kodiaks got off to a great start as they went on a four-point run which was halted for a moment with the Queens calling a timeout. The Polytechnic would end this run but not before the Kodiaks picked up a point off a huge block on the outside. The Queens would make a push late in the set with some great serving from outside-hitter Jaiden Ferguson (Business Administration), but it was not enough as the Kodiaks took the first set 25-23 after RDP sent a serve into the net.
Kodiaks Elyse Doble (General Studies) started off the second with a great one-handed diving dig near the scores table, but the Queens would come back with a middle attack from All-Conference Autumn Roos (Open Studies) to take the opening point of the set. Ferguson continued her incredible service game in the second set as she served four in a row to give the Queens the early lead. The Polytechnic had a lead as big as six but the Kodiaks slowly crawled back and were within one point near the end of the set. However, the Queens called a timeout and managed to pull things off to take the set 25-22 with a kill from graduating student-athlete Sydney Rix (Bachelor of Education).
The host Queens jumped out to an early 9-4 lead in the crucial third set which led to a timeout called by the Kodiaks. The Polytechnic really had their offense running smoothly as they extended their lead to 19-12 late in the set but their defense was not going unnoticed as they were finding ways to stop the Kodiaks' explosive hitters. Ferguson would pick up her 17th kill on the set point as her team takes the third set 25-16.
Ferguson would open the fourth set with her match-leading 18th kill to take the 1-0 lead for her Queens. But Kodiaks setter Taryn Bach (General Studies) would go on a five-serve run to open up the scoring early. Some great serving from all around Lethbridge College's lineup would lead to a 12-5 lead. Despite a late uprising by the Queens, the Kodiaks would extend the match by winning the set 25-20 after fifth-year Jamie Brown (Exercise Science) swung for her 13th kill of the match.
The Kodiaks and Queens were going point-for-point with each other to kick off the fifth and final set. But the Polytechnic would go on a 3-0 run to put them up 11-8 before Lethbridge called a timeout. On the bronze medal-winning point, Rix would cap off her ACAC career with her 20th kill of the match.
Queens Head Coach Talbot Walton explained it was an ecstatic feeling to have to win a bronze medal on their home court in front of their hometown fans.
"It was a great way to end a season. We had our sights set on being in the finals but in the end, winning the bronze medal and finishing the year off with a win, feels great. We look forward to next year as we return most of our student-athletes and host the 2024 CCAA Women's National Championships."
The players of the match went to Kodiaks Jamie Brown and Queens Sydney Rix. Brown finished off her ACAC career as well with 15 kills and 11 digs. Along with her 20 kills, Rix had five digs and just three errors.
Congratulations to both teams on making it this far and specifically, Head Coach Talbot Walton and the Queens on winning the bronze medal at this year's ACAC Women's Volleyball Championships.