Rattlers win in Straight Sets over Lions

The Ambrose Lions rolled into Medicine Hat to take on the Rattlers in an afternoon makeup game in the middle of the week. The teams opened up by trading quick side-outs both running through the middles. The Rattlers opened up a quick 4-2 lead with 2 errors on the Lions. Ambrose was quickly able to answer thanks to a pair of Rattlers errors. The Home side was able to quickly add 3 points thanks to 2 big blocks and an attacking error from Ambrose. They added another on an attack that went long before they could answer down 8-5.  2 quick points from the Lions and they found themselves only down 1, but the Rattlers were able to respond with a quick side-out. 2 aces from the Lions gave them their first lead of the set, up 11-10. After 2 poor serve receives, The Rattlers called a quick timeout to regroup and try to swing the momentum back in their favour. Side-outs quickly knotted the set at 12 as the teams passed the midpoint of the set. Medicine Hat was struggling with their serve receive throughout the set, and struggled to regain the momentum they had early in the set. After some good play at the net the Rattlers got out to an 18-16 lead before the Lions could answer. With a big Lions error the Rattlers were able to maintain their advantage heading into the final part of the set. Adding another point, the Rattlers led 22-19 forcing the Lions to take their first timeout. The Lions were able to score 2 straight out of the break and cut the Rattler lead to 1. An error on serve receive saw the Lions come back to tie the set at 22 forcing Medicine Hat to take their second timeout. The Rattlers were able to make a quick side-out out of the break. A Lions attacking error saw the Rattlers have a chance to serve for the set. A quick pair of side-outs and the Rattlers were able to sneak out a 25=23 first set victory. 

The Rattlers were able to carry the momentum from the first set to win 3 straight points to open up the second set. The Lions were able to respond with a side-out and an ace of their own. A Rattler attacking error and another ace saw the Lions take back the momentum, going up 4-3. Medicine Hat quickly responded and the second set was well underway. The Rattlers had an unbelievable net presence, able to create 3 blocks in one rally and regain a 2 point lead. This was quickly erased by the Lions and the teams were knotted at 8. The teams started to click offensively and both sides were more efficient converting side-outs. The Rallies shortened and both sides looked to take advantage of mistakes. With the score 13-12, the Lions held a tiny lead as the teams passed the halfway point in the set. The teams continued to trade side-outs with neither team able to grab a hold of the momentum. The Rattlers finally broke through with a block increasing their lead to 18-16 and forcing the Lions to take a timeout. Ambrose was able to make a quick side-out but the Rattlers responded with 2 of their own able to extend their lead, now 20-17. This saw the Lions take their second timeout of the set. The Rattlers came out of the break with another hold of serve and extended their lead to 4 before the Lions could respond. The Rattlers took a quick timeout after 2 Lion points, and came out able to quickly side-out the next serve. Another quick point and Medicine Hat was up 23-20. A Rattler injury saw a new player in the game late as they tried to close out the second set. An ambrose block saw the set tighten before a huge Rattler kill gave them the chance to serve for the set. Only needing one shot the Rattlers took a 25-22 second set victory going up 2 sets to 0. 

The Third set started with the Rattlers making a rotation error early and giving up an early point. The teams traded side-outs as the score slowly climbed out of the early stages, neither team with any real advantage or momentum. The score remained knotted at 7 as the teams slowly worked their way up the scoreboard. Again the offence was firing with a lot of efficacy as side-outs were quick and often. The Rattlers took the first lead of the set going up 11-8 thanks to a block and a Lions attacking error. After getting called on the net, Ambrose took a timeout down 4 in an effort to regroup. Medicine Hat held serve again and extended their lead once more. On the very next play the Rattlers put a roof on the Lions attack and were able to go up 14-8 forcing Ambrose to take another timeout. The Lions came out of the break and were able to score 3 quick points to reduce the deficit to 3. A Rattler attacking error gave the Lions second life before a service error gave the Rattlers the ball back. Medicine Hat held serve again to regain their 4 point margin. Ambrose started to click and was able to quickly chip away at the Rattler lead. With their lead only 1, 17-16, the Rattlers took their first timeout in an effort to end the match after 3 sets. The Rattlers got a quick point out of the break and looked to build, but a service error quickly gave the Lions the serve back. Able to hold serve and tie the set at 18, Ambrose looked to build on this momentum swing. The teams were tied at 20 as the set moved into the late stages. The Lions were able to score 2 quick points and the Rattlers took their second timeout down 22-20. The teams traded side-outs out of the break as the score remained close. The Lions, up 24-22 had 2 chances to take the 3rd set. Medicine Hat responded with a huge block and had tied it at 24 on the next serve. Ambrose responded and the Rattlers in turn. The set was knotted at 25. Another pair of missed serves saw the set again tied at 26 before the Rattlers took a 27-26 lead with a chance to serve for the set. A quick point and the Rattlers earned a straight sets victory winning 28-26 in the final set.