Trojans win in straight sets over Rattlers

A packed gym welcomed the SAIT Trojans to Medicine Hat to take on the Rattlers. The visitors were able to explode out of the gates going up 10-3 in the early part of the game. Having already burned a timeout, Medicine Hat looked to start executing after a plethora of errors. Letting a free ball hit the floor, Medicine Hat looked dazed early drawing the ire of the coaching staff. The Rattlers looked to start chipping away at the Trojan lead, yet every time they looked to be getting it together an unforced error got in their way. Up 17-9, the Trojans had a firm control of the first set. After trading side-outs the Rattlers took their second timeout down 18-10. Medicine hat came out of the break to score 2 straight but again SAIT was there to answer. The Rattlers were able to reduce the lead to 5, down 20-25. Another quick point on a Trojan error saw them continue to creep closer. But once again the Trojans were able to shut the door on a Rattler comeback scoring 4 straight to give themselves a chance to serve for the set. Only needing one serve the Trojans won the first set 25-16. 

The second set was tighter at the start, but SAIT was still able to carve out an early advantage going up 6-2. After haemorrhaging 3 straight points, the Rattlers were able to answer with 3 of their own bringing the score to 6-5. Able to tie it on the next point, the Rattlers looked to build on their momentum. Briefly taking the lead, the Rattlers gave back the serve on the next point knotting it at 7. The teams continued to trade side-outs as the score slowly climbed past the midpoint of the set. The Trojans again took 4 point advantage going up 16-12 on the back of 2 Rattler errors. The teams again traded quick side-outs as the set entered the final stages. Up 21-18 the Trojans brought in a serving sub to try and put away the set. He stepped up and hit an ace, forcing the Rattlers to take a timeout. The Rattlers used the break to get a quick side-out but SAIT was right there to answer again. Needing only another serve the Trojans took set 2, 25-20. 

The Third set started with a 4-1 run for the Rattlers. They added another quick point on a block and followed it up with a kill catching the corner. Now 6-1 the SAIT bench took a quick timeout. Medicine Hat missed their serve out of the break, but followed it up with a quick side-out. SAIT began to slowly chip away at the Rattler advantage. Only up 1, the Rattlers took a timeout with the scoreboard reading 9-8. Able to quickly convert out of the break, Medicine Hat held their advantage although now down to 2. This quickly disappeared as well with the teams tied at 13. The Trojans continued to hold momentum as they took a 17-14 lead on the back of 2 aces. The Trojans continued to pull away adding 2 more and going up 19-14 as the set entered the final stages. The teams continued to trade side-outs as the score got closer to the finale. SAIT was able to handle the Rattlers and took the third set 25-17.