Rattlers Sweep Lions in 3
The Medicine Hat College Rattlers opened up their season at home against the Ambrose Lions at home. With a load of fresh faces, the Rattlers looked to improve on a somewhat disappointing season prior. The teams opened the game trading side-outs before a huge kill off a free ball from Rookie Rattler Jovan Stepanovic energized the crowd early. With the Rattlers gaining the service advantage, they looked to capitalize and extend this early advantage. But as quickly as it came, the Lions roared back to tie it quickly at 5. Both teams seemed to be a bit rusty on service as the service errors started to mount for both sides. The Rattlers were able to gain control thanks to their high flying attack and opened up a 12-9 lead. This forced the Lions to take their first timeout to try and re group. The timeout helped as the Lions quickly roared back into the set working the Rattler lead to only 1. Medicine Hat was struggling with their net defense as the Lions were able to score on balls that should have been put blocked. The Rattlers were once again able to take control of the momentum and took a 19-16 lead late in the first set. As the teams traded side-outs the score crept closer to the end with the Rattlers in control. With the score 24-19, the Rattlers had a chance to serve for the set. With a side out the Lions kept themselves alive. Only for a short period however as they served the next ball long, giving the Rattlers the first set 25-20.
The second set started with another missed serve from the Rattlers, followed by a missed serve from the Lions. The Rattlers looked to open up an early lead and scored 3 straight with two big blocks to open up a 6-3 lead. With both sides swinging hard, good net defense was becoming more and more important. The Lions were able to capitalize on 2 good blocks, narrowing the margin to one. They were able to tie it a 9 with yet another unforced error from the Rattlers. They quickly regained composure and were able to keep their service advantage. With Ambrose winning another net battle they took the lead 11-10 and forced Medicine Hat to take a timeout. The home side tied it back up coming out of the timeout but was on the receiving end of an unfortunate call giving the ball back to Ambrose. The Rattlers came back to tie it up at 13. As the set moved into the back half, the Lions were again able to carve a slight lead only to again be erased right away. The Rattlers finally regained their lead at 17-16 causing the Lions to burn their 1st timeout. The Rattlers continued to dominate the next few points coming out of the break and opening a 20-17 lead. This quick momentum swing saw the lions take another quick timeout. This worked in their favor as they came out with two quick points narrowing the margin to 1. A bad pass on the serve from the Rattlers saw the Lions level the set yet again at 20. The Rattlers scrambling called their second timeout. This helped them regain control with 3 quick points gaining control at a crucial juncture in the set. The Lions roared right back with 2 of their own again closing the gap. With set point on the board, the Rattlers again looked to serve for the set. With a point off a free ball, the Rattlers snuck out a second set victory 25-22 and led 2 sets to none.
The Deciding third set saw the Rattlers and Lions battling early trading side-outs and points. The first break came off a big Jonas Enns block for the Rattlers who led 4-2. The home side maintained their momentum and opened up their lead again 7-4. Something on the previous play irritated the Ambrose coach as he had the captain go over to the head official to discuss. Although nothing came out of it, the Lions were able to gain a side-out. This was all they got as the Rattlers got the ball back on the very next play causing the lions to take time. With the lead now 9-6 the Lions needed to start chipping away before the Rattlers could expand their lead. This did not happen as a huge one hand block from Rattler Aleksa Zivic expanded the lead. the Rattlers led 14-8 forcing the Lions to burn their final timeout early in the set. Ambrose used this to their advantage scoring 2 straight and cutting slightly into the lead. Medicine Hat was too strong however, expanding their lead again at 17-11. The home side continued to win the small battles and was happy to just trade with the Lions. With the Lions chipping away at the Rattler lead, the Rattler bench called a timeout up 20-15. The Rattlers came out of the break and Keandre Evans blasted a kill cross court. After Trading side outs, the Rattlers continued to inch closer to 25. The Rattlers cruised and took a 3 sets victory winning 25-17 in the final set
The ACAC players of the game were Stephen Jones for Ambrose and Dexter Mackie for Medicine Hat