Rattlers Sweep Southern Alberta Classic with Kodiaks

In the battle of Southern Alberta, the Lethbridge College Kodiaks made the short trip east to Medicine Hat to face off with the Rattlers. The second part of a Home and Home, the Rattlers were able to squeak out a 5 set win in Lethbridge. Hoping to build on this result, both teams needed wins to move up in the standings. A quick start from the home side saw them jump out to a 9-3 lead early. This forced the visitors to burn a timeout early. This timeout was effective as the Kodiaks were able to stall the attack. Narrowing the lead to 5. The lead down to 3, the Rattlers were finally able to regain serve. What looked like sloppy play and passing from both sides what the biggest factor early in the first set. Once regaining the momentum the Medicine Hat started to get on a roll. With setter Janessa Oelke serving, Medicine Hat re-opened a 10 point advantage. This forced the Kodiaks to take their second timeout. 21-11 the set was all but over. A huge effort from Rattler Libero Shaya Suchy kept the play alive letting the Rattlers serve for a Set Point. Only one serve was needed as the Rattlers took the set 25-11.

The second set started with a few good plays from both sides. 2-2 early nobody had an advantage to start the set. With Mckenzie Griffith serving the Rattlers Rattled off 3 straight to extablish an advantage. As the set settled in, teams traded Side-outs as the score slowly climbed towards the middle of the set. A big block from the Kodiaks saw them start to steal the momentum back. Now 15-9 for the Rattlers, Medicine Hat hoped to extend their lead bringing in a designated server. This helped extend their lead again this time increasing their lead to 7. Again the Kodiaks needed to call a timeout to gather the troops. Coming out of the break hard, Lethbridge started to chip away. Reducing the lead to 3, the Kodiaks had climbed back into the set, now Forcing Medicine Hat into timeout. Coming out of the break, Medicine Hat capitalized on 2 straight ending the set 25-20.

The third set was a must win for Lethbridge and the way they came out, this was obvious. Keeping the set even at 4, Lethbridge appeared to have cleaned up their mistakes from the first 2 sets. Opening up a 2 point lead, 7-5, the Kodiak attack was finally clicking. This along with some great defense had them keeping up with a stronger Medicine Hat squad. Nearing the midway point, the Kodiaks continued to hold a lead over the Rattlers. This quickly evaporated with Medicine Hat converting on 3 straight, tying it at 12. A quick 3 points from the Rattlers squad regained their control of the game. This was short lived as the Kodiaks rung up 4 straight to retake a 17-16 lead. Immediately evened up by Medicine Hat, and retaken quickly. 19-17 in favor of the Rattlers, they hoped to close out the game quickly after a long 5 set match on Thursday. With Meagan Hoeber serving, the Rattlers were able to pad this cushion with an ace. This disappeared quite quickly as the Kodiaks were able to tie the set at 21. Now a battle to close out the game, points became even more of a premium. Kodiaks setter Jamie Brown served for 3 points, bringing Lethbridge to a set point up 24-22. An attacking error from Medicine Hat saw the game pushed to a 4^th set.

A quick 3-0 start from Medicine hat was quickly erased by an energetic Kodiak team. Now looking like the sharper team, Lethbridge attempted to create some time of advantage early. Scoring 3 straight, Lethbridge was able to take a commanding lead early. Down 5-9, the Rattlers hoping to stop the momentum called a timeout. This did not help as the Kodiaks continued to roll after the timeout. Another 2 points saw the Rattlers trailing by 5 and needing to start something big. Some great defense from Medicine Hat opened up a glimmer of hope as they started to chip away at the lead. Again, short lived as the Kodiaks were able to regain control. This too was quick as the Rattlers offence started firing again. Bringing it back to just down 1, The Rattlers offensive surge forced Lethbridge to take a timeout. They won the point coming back, but with 3 huge blocks from Rattler Meagan Hoeber, the Rattlers were able to retake the lead. This massive momentum shift injected an energy back into the Snake Pit. The Crowd brought the energy of the Home side up, forcing the Kodiaks into another timeout. This did not seem to stop the momentum built as the Rattlers were able to take the first point coming off the break. With Jamie Brown back serving the Kodiaks were able to close the gap but the Rattlers still held the late advantage. Up 23-21, Rattlers coach Kim Stonehouse called a timeout in order to settle her team to close out the match. With 2 straight, the Rattlers closed out the match 25-21 and 3 sets to 1