Red Deer Upsets Augustana to set up all South Final

In the second Semi-Final of the night the Augustana Vikings faced off with the Red Deer College Kings. The all important game started with both sides getting a quick side-out. Augustana won the next 2 points with a couple scramble plays before Red Deer could respond. The Queens quickly answered to tie to at 3. The back and forth battle had begun. At 5-5 the Vikings scored 3 straight to jump out to an 8-5 lead. The Queens were quick to respond but remained behind the Vikings squad by 2. Now 11-9 Vikings, Augustana scored on a long rally to re-establish their 3 point lead. Red Deer seeing this fought back and quickly tied the set at 12. The score remained even at 14 all as the score slowly climbed up the board. The Vikings established a small lead at 20-17 and held the lead late in the set. the Queens responded with 2 quick points forcing the Vikings to take a timeout up 20-19. The Queens held all their momentum scoring 4 more to go up 23-20 forcing the Vikings to take a timeout. After trailing for much of the set, the Red Deer Queens came back to take a 25-22 first set victory.

The second set started with the teams trading points early on until the teams reached 5. From here the Queens exploded scoring 5 straight and jumping out to a 10-5 lead. the Queens continued to roll blocking the next Viking attack and forcing the Vikings to take a timeout down 5-11. The Queens came out of the break and come up with another big block further extending the lead before the Vikings could answer. The Vikings answered fast cutting the 7 point lead to 2 off some great serving from Shaelyn Boyes. This saw the Queens take their first timeout up 12-10. The game remained close as the score continued to climb with the Queens still holding on to a very slight lead. the Vikings were battling hard and were able to come back and tie the set at 17. Still tied at 18, the teams traded side-outs late to knot it at 19. The Queens took a 22-20 advantage late scoring on 2 blocks. They extended to 23 and the Vikings took their second timeout down 3. The Vikings were able to get a quick side-out out of the break, but a missed serve gave the Queens the chance to serve for the set. They only needed one shot to take a 25-21 second set win.

The third set started with 2 quick Queens points. the Vikings answered and the set was underway. Again the teams remained even till 5 all when the Queens exploded again for 5 straight going up 10-5. The Vikings called a timeout which helped as they quickly regained the serve, only to lose it just as quickly. However the Vikings had stalled the Queens momentum temporarily. The Queens maintained their lead as the set moved past the midway point. Red Deer added to their lead going up 17-11 and looked to put it away with an Ace on the next point forcing Augustana to take a timeout, down 7. The Queens were happy to trade side-outs and cruise, but Augustana started to apply some heavy pressure narrowing the Red Deer lead to 3, 18-15. The Queens took a timeout but the Vikings continued to hammer out of the break cutting the lead to 2. The Queens once again took a 4 point lead late in the set. Augustana once again closed the gap and the score read 20-18 Queens in the lead. The intensity ramped up and both teams were flying all over the gym trying to make plays. The Queens still held a small lead late but the Vikings had got within 1, 21-20. The Queens again took a 23-20 lead late and looked to close out the match. Augustana had other ideas and scored the next 2, but a missed serve game the Queens the chance to serve for the match. Only needing one, the Queens took a straight sets victory winning 25-22 and 3 sets to none.

The ACAC Players of the game were Rae Metrunec for Augustana and Emma Holmes for Red Deer College