The Queens complete the weekend sweep of the Rattlers with a straight set victory on Saturday

Red Deer, January 20, 2024 - The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens completed the weekend sweep of the Medicine Hat College Rattlers with a straight sets victory on Saturday afternoon.

It was quite the first set between these two teams in the second game of the doubleheader this weekend as in the early stages the Queens and Rattlers were exchanging kill-for-kill to keep it nice and close. But after a 4-1 run by the home team, the visitors called a timeout as they faced a 13-10 deficit. The Queens took the first set 25-18 following outside-hitter Jaiden Ferguson's (Business Administration) fourth kill of the set.

Following her fifth kill of the match, outside-hitter Lauren Junck (Bachelor of Arts in Psychology) served three in a row to give the Queens a small two-point lead in the early stages of the set. In this sequence, she also earned her first service ace of the match. Following their timeout, Medicine Hat College would earn the next three points backed by middle Anica Haberstock (Bachelor of Education) at the service line and make it a one-point game. The Rattlers battled to tie it at 23 which forced the Queens to call a timeout. The visitors even took a 24-23 lead out of the short break with a huge block from outside hitter Jaivyn Barabe (Bachelor of Science). But the Queens would earn the next three points in the game and take the set 26-24 following a Medicine Hat College attack error.

After giving up the first point of the third set, the Queens would go on a six-point run while middle Raya Roesler (Practical Nurse Diploma) was at the service line. The Rattlers would put an end to this streak with Haberstock's seventh kill. Middle Jailyn Stouffer (Legal Assistant) served five in a row to give the Queens a 17-5 lead before she put one into the net that ended the streak. Outside-hitter Morgan Boisvert (Bachelor of Arts in Psychology) picked up the team's eighth ace to give the Queens a 25-10 set victory.

The players of the match were awarded to Kaedence Wiggins of the Rattlers and Jaiden Ferguson of the Queens. Wiggins finished tied for the team-high with seven kills while Ferguson led the match in this category with 10.

The Queens will have next week off but will be back in action on February 2 at home when they welcome the Briercrest College Clippers. As for the Rattlers, they will be in Calgary next week to take on the SAIT Trojans with the match on Friday starting at 6 pm.

Players of the match: Kaedence Wiggins (Rattlers) and Jaiden Ferguson (Queens)