The Kings outduel The Kings University with a four set victory
Red Deer, January 14, 2022 – In Red Deer tonight, two of the top teams in each division faced off against each other: the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings and The Kings University Eagles in what was classified as a marquee matchup by the CCAA.
In front of a decent crowd in Red Deer, it was almost like a championship-like atmosphere as the fans were getting into it when the Kings roared after a Kings hit or block. But the Eagles had some fans, and their team was just as loud as everyone else when they scored a point. It was a tight first set which added to the championship-like atmosphere as well. Kings took the first set 25-22 after a kill from outside-hitter Nicolas Possingham (Bachelor of Arts in Psychology) to put them up 1-0 in the match.
As the second set went along, the Eagles showed off their adversity and battled to a small four-point lead as they head into a timeout called by Head Coach Aaron Schulha. Kings University were looking like a different team as they were finding ways to continue rallies and stop an impressive Kings offense. But the home team were feeding off the energy of the crowd and battled back to tie it at the halfway point of the second set. The Kings University walked away with a 25-22 set victory to tie up the match at one.
It was yet another tight set between these two top teams in the ACAC, but it was the Eagles who got a late two point lead in the third set that forced the Kings to call a timeout to regroup. But Red Deer battled back and earned a big point in the game to take a 23-22 lead before The Kings University called a timeout. The Kings were able to put the nail in the coffin with a kill from Possingham to take a 2-1 match lead as they head into the fourth.
The Kings University came slow out of the gate to start the fourth set as the dug themselves a six-point hole before their coach called a timeout. But give the Kings credit as they were finding the gaps inside the Eagles defense. Down by nine late in the fourth and possible final set, the Eagles managed to fight and streak some points to make it close. In the end the Kings would take it in four with a 25-17 set victory.
The players of the game went to Eagles outside-hitter Jayden Hiebert and Kings outside-hitter Noah Carlson. Hiebert finished with a team-leading 13 kills on the night. For Carlson in his debut with the Kings, he had 20 kills.
The Kings will be back here in Red Deer next week Friday when they take on the Ambrose Lions with a start time of 8 pm. For the Eagles, they will play a home-and-home series with the Lakeland College Rustlers starting in Edmonton on January 20 at 8 pm.