Lions spoil Rattlers Home Opener
With the Volleyball season upon us again, The Medicine Hat Rattlers played host to the Ambrose Lions on the Opening night of the season. With the Rattlers hosting the ACAC Championships in the spring, they were hoping to build on their last season to earn their spot in the dance. With most of their key athletes returning, the Rattlers added some more firepower to their lineup. Ambrose was coming off a Playoff season the year before and looked to again return to the dance in a very competitive South Division. The 1st set started off with three straight errors for the home side, allowing the Lions to jump ahead to a 3-0 lead before the Rattlers could answer. Quickly able to battle back, the Rattlers tied the set at 4 off a Lions Hitting error. The Lions were able to answer quickly with a big block on the next Rattlers attack. From here the teams settled in to the set, trading points and side-outs with no clear advantage evident. With two huge plays from Tamara Barth, the Rattlers started to look like they would gain momentum, but every time the Lions would win a key point to keep them right there. The Rattlers started to pull away at 12-9 with 3 straight points won off blocks. Another quick point forced the Lions to take a timeout. The Home side kept their momentum with another quick point coming out of the break. Medicine Hat continued to pile on the offence and defence pulling further away up 18-12. Needing a spark, the Lions brought a substitute into the game. This seemed to help as the visitors rang up 3 straight points and narrowing the margin. The Rattlers were able to once again keep the Lions from gaining too much momentum. Following a Rattlers ace from Megan Hoeber, the Lions were forced to take their second timeout down 16-21. The Lions staged a late comeback with the Rattlers at 24 points. They were able to make 4 straight points to sit just 2 points back at 24-22. This forced the Rattlers to take a timeout to gather their composure. Unable to convert, the Rattlers mistakes continued and the Lions were able to tie the set at 24. The Rattlers finally gained back serve and were able to sneak a win out of the first set they should have won handily 26-24.
The second set started with a quick side out from the Lions on a good offensive play. Able to follow it up, Ambrose got off to another 2-0 lead. With a block that looked over the net, the Lions were able to jump out to a 4-0 lead before the home side could respond. The Lions seemed to have more firepower on the floor in the second set as they were able to match the intensity from the Rattlers side. This resulted in the teams trading points and the score slowly climbing with the Lions up by 4. The Rattlers finally closed the gap slightly with two straight on good solid play. The Lions still held a 3 point lead as the score hit 10-7. The Lions started to pull away again, increasing their lead, now 13-7 the Rattlers took a timeout. This was ineffective however as the Lions continued to execute and led 16-8. Needing a comeback like the Lions did in the First set, the Rattlers started to look sharper and scored 4 straight points cutting into the Ambrose lead. Winning the next point on a long rally, the Rattlers forced the Lions into a timeout after surrendering 5 straight. The Lions were able to put together a quick attack out of the break and regain control of the set. Up 20-15, the Lions only needed to keep the Rattlers at an arms reach to take the second set. Refusing to give up, the Rattlers scrapped and clawed for every ball and point. Needing a big run, the Rattlers called a timeout down 23-17 to try and get something going. The Lions were too much in the second set however, taking the set 25- 18 and tying the match at one set apiece.
Down to a best of 3, both teams looked to win the crucial 3rd set. The Lions again took the first point of the set, but this time the Rattlers came right back turning to veteran Amber Stigter to put away 2 straight points. The Lions answered but the Rattlers held a tiny advantage early. they quickly turned this small advantage into a 5 point lead up 7-2. This forced the visitors to take a timeout early in the set. The Rattlers continued to Roll, extending their lead to 6 and firing on the offensive side of the ball. The strong play on offence translated as well to the other side of the ball. Dryden Gris was playing strong on the net forcing the Lions to hit around her long blocks. Scoring at a 2-1 rate, The Rattlers doubled up the Lions leading 14-7. After scoring yet another point, the Rattlers forced the Lions to burn their last timeout early. The Rattlers continued their strong play again extending the lead. a huge point on a long rally saw the Rattlers take a 10 point lead, up 18-8. Ambrose started to fight back, they would need something special however as the Rattlers were still up 7 in the late stages of the set. The Lions again reduced the deficit, now only up 4 the Rattlers took a timeout. This gave the home side a boost as they scored 2 straight to regain some of their momentum. Hoping to close out the set, Medicine Hat continued to push hard and took the 3rd 25-17 and led 2 sets to 1.
The fourth set started with the Lions again scoring the first point of the set. A poor attack from the Rattlers gave the Lions another point. After using the Rattlers block the Lions again jumped out to an early 3-0 lead before the Rattlers could respond. A Dryden Gris ace got the Rattlers back with one, before Amber Stigter tied it back up at 3. The Rattlers took a 1 point lead before losing the serve back to the Lions. Ambrose quickly regained their advantage on a great defensive play. The teams settled in and traded side-outs with no clear advantage as the set left the early stages. This quickly changed as the Lions were able to jump out to an advantage as the score hit the midway point. Down 8-12 Medicine hat used their first timeout before the score got away from them. The Lions came out of the break and scored the next point, but immediately lost it on the next serve. The teams again traded side outs and the Lions maintained their 4 point lead. They finally cut into the lead thanks in part to some good net defense. Continuing to chip away the Rattlers brought the score back to within one. The Lions were able hold on to their slight lead 19-16, forcing the Rattlers to use their final timeout. Turning out to be effective, the Rattlers scored quickly out of the break. This was all of their momentum as the Lions scored the next two taking a 21-17 lead. Ambrose was trying to close it out and successfully held the serve for 4 straight points winning 25-18 and leveling the match at 2 sets each.
In the 5th and final set both teams looked to take a decisive early lead to take the shortened tiebreak set. The teams traded side-outs to start the set. The Lions earned their first 2 points off Rattler errors with the Rattlers getting theirs off kills. The Lions came up with a big 3 contact Kill to take a 3-2 lead. the Rattlers roared right back with a huge block to level the score at 3. Another attacking error for the Rattlers saw the Lions take the advantage back. Biting themselves, the Rattlers gave up points and opportunities. Even with this, they were able to stay with the visitors keeping the score close. The Lions finally started to capitalize on the Errors and opened up a 7-4 lead. they expanded the lead on the next point and were up 8-4 at the switch. Coming on to the other side of the court, the Rattlers scored 2 fast points to narrow the Lions lead. Still down 3, the Rattlers were forced to take a timeout in an attempt to gain some momentum to take into the final stages of the set. The Lions were the team that responded out of the break scoring on yet another Rattler error. The Rattlers quickly called their final timeout and quickly returned to the court. This time they were able to convert coming out of the break clinging on to the match. They dug in their claws and held on for dear life down 9-13. The Lions were just too much for the Rattlers to overcome their errors against and fell to the visitors 15-9 and 3 sets to 2.
The ACAC Players of the game were Vanessa Boone for Ambrose and Amber Stigter for Medicine Hat