Kodiaks crush Rattlers in Medicine Hat

The men were delayed by a longer than usual women's game starting half an hour late. This may have thrown off their usual preparation schedule as the first set started with a few sloppy plays. Unforced errors from both sides saw the score level at 4 with neither team holding momentum. Medicine Hat started rookie setter Chad Sieben who was feeding the ball to the Brazilian's who were flying. The Kodiaks were able to stay the attack by passing up balls that should have hit the floor. Lethbridge used this defense to translate into points, leading by a narrow margin 15-13. An even game saw the score again tied at 17 with no team gaining an advantage. A close call on a play saw Lethbridge coach Greg Gibos Lose his cool and receive a yellow card for his side. This actually seemed to energize his team as they took a late 23-21 lead. This ultimately lead to a Kodiak victory winning the first set 25-22

The second set started with the Kodiaks rattling off 3 straight points before a Rattlers response. Medicine Hat down by 3 moved to a new setter bringing in Avery Triggs in an attempt to spark the MHC offence. Controversial net plays happened for both teams as both coaches were expressing their frustrations with their teams as well as officials calls. Lethbridge maintained their momentum as they maintained a 4-point lead 13-9 in the set. The Rattlers tried to claw their way back into the set, but the Kodiaks were ultimately too much on this day as they widened the lead to 5 up 18-13. This led to a Medicine Hat timeout. This timeout did not change the momentum like they would have liked as the Kodiaks scored right out of the Timeout. The Lethbridge lead was just too much as the Rattler Comeback fell short, Kodiaks taking the second set by a narrow margin 25-23.

Medicine Hat hoped to extend the match by winning the third set. The Kodiaks hoped to end it early and catch the bus home. The set again started off in the Kodiaks favor leading 6-3 early. The Rattlers came back with a couple key plays from Joao Pedro Freire to pull the game back to even at 7. An even set with both teams playing both sides of the ball, the Kodiaks seemed to be the only team capitalizing on the junk balls and garbage plays throughout the match. It seemed to be that the Kodiaks simply wanted it more than the hometown Rattlers. Down 20-16 coach Mark Porter of Medicine Hat called a timeout in an attempt to gain an explanation of calls from the head official. This gave the Rattlers more energy than they had all game with the next two points finally on the floor. A huge pancake from Libero Kreegan Schrnatta injected the home side with a last gasp of life. Unfortunately for the home side the Kodiaks were too much winning 25-21 and 3 sets to none.