Rattlers Sweep Lions in 3

The Ambrose Lions headed south to Medicine Hat to take on the Rattlers in the Snake Pit for the first half of a home and home. With both teams out of the Playoff picture, they were both looking to play for pride and the future of the program. The first set got started with the teams trading side-outs and serves early. The Rattlers were able to hold a tiny 7-5 advantage as the set moves out of the beginning stages. The Rattlers were able to expand on this lead quickly as they opened up a 10-6 lead over the next few points. Maintaining their lead, the Rattlers went up 12-8 and at the midway point in the set, forced the Lions to take a timeout. Coming out of the timeout the Rattlers scored again and held on to the momentum they had built early. An ace on the next 2 serves in a row saw the Rattlers go up 15-8 forcing the Lions to burn their second timeout. Jovan Stepanovic was on fire serving opening up a 20-8 lead for the Rattlers. Jovan missed with the Rattlers up 21-8 but the Rattlers earned the serve right back. With the huge serving effort, the Rattlers were up huge, with little chance for the lions to climb back in the set. The Rattlers cruised to a dominant first set victory, taking it 25-12.

The Second set started with the Rattlers taking the first point on a Lions error. The Lions answered right back thanks to a Rattler error as well. The teams traded side-outs and the second set was tied at 2. The teams continued to trade points early as neither team could grab any momentum. the score was knotted at 6 before the Rattlers were able to score 2 straight going up 8-6. The Lions came right back to tie the set up at 8 and again there was no advantage for either team. The Rattlers were able to take the momentum from here scoring 4 straight to open up a 12-8 lead. this forced the Lions to take a timeout. The Rattlers missed their serve coming out of the timeout but were able to grab control again quickly. maintaining their 4 point advantage through the middle part of the set. Ambrose took back some momentum narrowing the Rattler lead and eventually tying the set back up at 14. Medicine Hat seemed to take exception to this, scoring 3 straight to take a small lead heading into the late stages of the set. with the Rattlers up 19-16, Ambrose took their second timeout. The Rattlers scored once again coming out of the break, increasing their lead late in the set, now 20-16. The Rattlers scored again before a service error saw the score sit at 21-17. The Lions continued to hang around but the Rattlers had built enough of a lead they were content just trading side-outs. The Lions were creeping closer, with their lead only 2, 23-21, the Rattlers took their first timeout late in the set. Medicine Hat scored a big point coming out of the break and had a chance to serve for the set. They only needed the one serve as the Rattlers won 25-21 taking a 2-0 lead.

The third set started with the teams trading serves and side-outs. The Rattlers from here served 2 straight aces to open a 4-2 lead in the early going. They added another thanks to some good defense combined with efficient attacking before the next serve went in the net. Medicine hat made a quick side-out on a great serve and was up 6-3. After getting called on 2 straight handling calls, the Rattler lead was down to 1. Jovan Stepanovic served another 2 aces and Medicine Hat was up 10-6 forcing the Lions to take a timeout. The Rattlers scored again coming out of the break but the Lions were able to answer on the next point. Ambrose quickly came back to trail 10-11 until a serve into the net gave the Rattlers the ball back. Medicine Hat increased their lead, up 15-11 in the crucial set. Ambrose was able to score the next two points on Rattler errors before the home side once again gained the serve. With Aleksa Zivic serving the Rattlers again extended the lead to 4 as the set moved into the late stages. The Lions started to chip away at the lead again. Ambrose worked their way back to down 1, 18-19 and forced Medicine Hat to take a timeout. The Lions tied it on the next point, but the Rattlers were able to win the next to take a 20-19 lead. Another Stepanovic ace saw the Rattlers re-open their 2 point margin while a Justice Lesuk block added as well. The Rattlers piled it on taking a 23-19 lead late in the set. The Rattlers were able to side out for the win, taking a 25-21 win and a straight sets victory.

The ACAC Players of the game were Mark Fountain for Ambrose and Aleksa Zivic for MHC