Vikings Snake Bit by Rattlers
The Augustana Vikings popped out of the South Saskatchewan River in Medicine Hat to do Battle in the Snake Pit against the Rattlers. Medicine Hat was first to strike with 3 quick points before the Vikings could respond. With the help of even more serving, the Rattlers extended their lead going up 9-3 before you could blink. The Vikings were finally able to respond scoring 2 quick points. Medicine hat was even quicker in response maintaining their 6 point lead. Able to extend this through the mid game, the Rattlers continued to dominate and led 19-9. Able to cruise to the first set victory the Rattlers took the first set 25-12.
The second set was much closer at the start. With the teams staying within 2 points of each other the entire time, Medicine Hat held a small 8-6 lead. Able to convert a free ball the Rattlers extended to 3 points before another ace made the score 10-6.from here the pace of the set evened, as the teams traded points and side-outs. Medicine hat had a 20-16 lead late in the set, but the Vikings were threatening and building momentum. The Rattlers lead was too much to overcome as they took the set 25-20.
The Third set saw the Vikings come out hard in the must win set. They were able to do what the Rattlers did to them in the first two sets. With a quick 9-4 lead, the Vikings forced Medicine Hat to take a timeout early. Out of the break the Rattlers quickly came back trailing by 1,10-9. Sensing this the Vikings turned it on again and quickly went up 15-10. The Rattlers again chipped away, reducing the Viking lead to 2. Another block from the Rattlers saw the lead one before the vikings could respond. A quick Viking ace saw the lead grow to 3 again. The Rattlers once again battled back slowly and the scoreboard read 21-20 vikings. Losing their momentum, the Vikings took a timeout in an effort to regroup. Able to break the serve, the Vikings responded out of the break to maintain their cushion. They rode this to the end and took set 3 25-22.
The Fourth set started the same way as the third with the Vikings starting strong early. Up 5-2 the Vikings let the Rattler serve hit the floor twice and the Rattlers were only down 1. With the score 6-6 the Rattlers were building momentum and looking more efficient on the attack. With a great kill run through the middle the home side took their first lead of the set. An augustana ace saw the score tied at 8 and the teams deadlocked again. The teams traded side-outs as the score climbed closer to the end. The Rattlers were able to sneak out a small lead, going up 19-16 and forcing the vikings to burn a timeout. Able to respond out of the break, the vikings narrowed the lead before giving the ball right back to the Rattlers on an error. The Rattlers came up with a huge block and extend the lead to 22-18 nearing the end. A late Vikings timeout looked to swing the momentum, but the Rattlers continued to hold on. And won 25-19 winning 3 sets to one.