Queens sweep Rattlers in the Hat.

The Red Deer Queens were back in town for the second half of a double header against the Medicine Hat College Rattlers. The Queens won the night before 3-1 so the home side was looking for revenge. Dressed in black the Rattlers were able to trade side-outs with the queens on the first two points. From here Red deer in white came alive scoring the next 3 points. Medicine Hat responded before the Queens again broke the Rattler serve. The Rattlers did not roll over like the night previous, instead were fighting hard to stay within striking distance of the Queens. The Queens started to open another small lead in the middle of the set, they rattled off a few straight serves to take a 16-12 lead, prompting the Rattlers to take a timeout. The Home side came out of the break with three quick points to reduce the deficit to 1. The continued with their strong play scoring another 3 points to take an 18-16 lead late in the first set. the Queens battled back to tie the set at 20 in a very back and forth affair. After losing their lead, the Rattlers took their second timeout down 22-21. The Queens were able to keep the advantage out of the break resulting in a 2 chances for the set. Medicine Hat won the first point but needed to hold serve to level the set at 24. The Queens were able to convert on offence, taking the first set 25-23. 

Disappointed with the first set result, the Rattlers came out swinging hard on the first point of the set. RDC was able to respond in the same way seconds later. The Queens again jumped out to an early lead, executing on offence with efficiency. Able to double the score 6-3 the Queens once again looked very strong early. the Rattlers started to close the gap but a momentum killing call on a controversial ball on the line allowed the Queens to retake their lead, up 11-7. Continuing to build on their momentum going up 7-14. The Rattlers called a timeout and came out of the break scoring 2 quick points. Red Deer responded back again with another flurry of points going up 17-10. With tons of room the Queens looked to turn on cruise control and took advantage of their powerful offence. After a very close first set the Queens were able to put the Rattlers away easily 25-14 taking a 2-0 lead.

The third set opened with a close call on the first point resulting in a Rattlers point. Meagan Hoeber of Medicine hat followed it up with 2 aces to open the set with a 3-0 lead. the Queens got back in the set and were able to erase the Rattlers lead and tie the set at 4. From here the Rattlers responded with captain Amber Stigter serving, able to score 4 straight taking back their lead. Again, Red Deer responded but this time the Rattlers were able to hold them off. Trading side-outs the Rattlers maintained their lead, up 13-8 they forced Red Deer to take a timeout. The Queens started to battle back but any time they made ground the Rattlers responded. Able to maintain their lead through the middle of the set, Medicine Hat found themselves with a 18-13 lead entering the later stages of the set. Trading side-outs and points the Rattlers were content to just hold on to their lead. Winning a long rally, the Rattlers were able to keep the momentum in the gym and their 21-16 lead. After being called out of rotation twice in a row the Rattlers had lost a big portion of their lead only up 21-19. The home side took a timeout in an effort to regroup and maintain their lead. The Rattlers were able to stay ahead of the Queens 23-20 forcing the visitors to take their second timeout. The Rattlers came out of the break and score on 2 straight to take the third set 25-20.

The fourth set started with the teams trading side-outs on the first two points of the set. Continuing with the trend, the teams continued to trade points and serves until a Queens error gave the Rattlers the service advantage they held a 7-6 lead early. Every point in the early going was tightly contested with only a few mistakes from each side. The Queens were able to take advantage of these errors and jumped out to a 9-7 lead before the Rattlers responded. Red Deer again extended their lead 13-11 and were again looking as if they were controlling the pace. They gained further control of the score expanding the lead to 16-11 forcing the Rattlers to take a timeout. The Rattlers continued to struggle coming out of the break with the Queens scoring 3 straight and opening a 19-11 lead. scoring again on a block, the Queens had a 9 point advantage as they entered the late stages of the set. The Rattlers started to battle back late and were able to narrow the margin, after losing part of their lead, the Queens called a timeout up 23-17. The Queens scored the next two and took the 25-17 victory in 3 sets to 1.

The ACAC Players of the game were, Tess Pearman from RDC and Brooke Christie from MHC