Queens lead second day of championships with victory over Trojans

CAMROSE, Alta. — Day 2 of the Women's Volleyball Championships opened with a high-stakes consolation matchup between the SAIT Trojans and the Red Deer Queens, with both squads eager to rebound after losses on opening day.
The Queens left little doubt early, asserting their control and rolling to a straight-sets victory over the Trojans. Playing with urgency and confidence, Red Deer set the tone from the opening serve and maintained momentum throughout the match, limiting SAIT's chances to mount a sustained push.

The Trojans came out firing, applying heavy pressure from the service line and forcing the Queens onto the defensive early. SAIT's aggressive serving created separation, while Sarah Henriksen was a steady force in the front row, capitalizing on scoring opportunities.
Red Deer began to claw back midway through the set, sparked by Maddy DeZutter's outstanding work in the back row. Her timely digs helped shift momentum and pull the Queens within striking distance at 16–13. As the set wore on, Autumn Letwin and Rachel Perry took control at the net, powering the Queens back to an even 19–19. With neither side willing to give ground, the set pushed into extended points. Red Deer edged ahead 28–27 before sealing the set 29–27 with a statement block to take the early lead.

SAIT responded quickly in the second, once again leaning on Henriksen's lethal spin serve to jump out to a 6–2 advantage. The Queens answered through All-Conference standout Nadia McKeage, whose presence in the front row steadied Red Deer and kept the set within reach.
The teams traded points through the middle stages in a balanced, physical battle. In the closing moments, a sideline miss by the Trojans proved costly, allowing the Queens to close out the set 25–22 and take a two-set advantage.
The stage was firmly set for a dramatic continuation as both teams showcased resilience, depth, and championship-level intensity.

The third set opened with a surge from the SAIT Trojans, as Grace Florence ignited the Trojans from the service line to build an early 4–0 advantage. SAIT maintained pressure through the opening stretch, but the momentum began to swing as the set settled in.
"I think we made a couple of substitutions in each of the sets that kind of just changed our energy, from that energy it allowed some of the starters to get more freedom in their game and play our style" says Head Coach Talbot Waton
The score tightened to 12–12, setting the stage for another closely contested battle. From there, the Red Deer Queens leaned on their firepower at the net. Nadia McKeage continued to be a consistent threat in the front row, helping the Queens edge ahead 15–13.
As the set moved into the red zone, Red Deer found another gear, extending their lead to 21–18. Autumn Letwin took control at the net with dominant play, anchoring a strong closing push. A combination of sustained pressure from the Queens and unforced errors on the Trojans' side sealed the outcome, as Red Deer closed out the set 25–20 to secure the match in straight sets.

With the win, the Queens keep their championship hopes alive and advance to the consolation final. Red Deer will be back on the court tomorrow, competing in the consolation final at 11:30 a.m., as they look to close out their tournament run on a high note.