MVB | Kodiaks sweep Medicine Hat
Jan. 20, 2018 - It was a game the Kodiaks controlled, but could have easily let slip away.
In the end, Lethbridge was able to "trust" the process and dig deep to stay undefeated in 2018.
Coming off a huge straight-sets victory in Medicine Hat the previous night, the Kodiaks went hunting for a weekend sweep of the Medicine Hat Rattlers in front of a raucous and full Val Matteotti Gym crowd on LVC night.
Despite dropping the first set and narrowly averting a huge letdown in set two, Lethbridge emerged victorious in four sets thanks to a terrific all-around team effort.
The teams stayed neck and neck for most of the first two sets. The Kodiaks led for most of set one but the Rattlers hung around and took their first set lead at 21-20. They finished off the set on a Kodiaks service error to grab the early advantage.
The match was truly decided in an epic set two battle.
Tied at 25, both teams had numerous set point opportunities yet were unable to seal the deal. Finally, the Kodiaks were
Dax Whitehead had six kills in the set, while Hansen added another five to compliment his four digs. Joao Pedro Freire and Alfred Dalevik had six kills each in the set for MHC.
Narrowly escaping a two set hole, the Kodiaks channelled the momentum and translated it into dominating set three and four performances.
Lethbridge took set three 25-19 before closing the match out emphatically with a 25-15 set four decision.
Whitehead finished with 21 kills and a .280 hitting percentage, while Hansen had 17 total kills on the night. Tony Albizzatti chipped in three service aces and added 15 digs for Lethbridge.
Freire and Vitor Pereira each had eleven kills total for MHC.
The Kodiaks now face their toughest test of the season next weekend, when they travel to Red Deer for a two-game set with the RDC Kings. Medicine Hat will look to snap a seven-game losing streak when they play the Ambrose Lions in a home-and-home series.
Players of the Game:
Rattlers - #Vitor Pereira
Kodiaks - #3 Michael Svab