The Broncos upset the Kings in a five-set thriller

Red Deer, February 4, 2023 – The game would go the distance. The Red Deer Polytechnic hosted the Olds College Broncos on Saturday night which turned into a five-set thriller between two South Division teams. After getting swept in three straight sets, the Broncos found a way to walk away with an impressive five-set victory over a Kings squad that has not lost since the first weekend of the season. This loss ended the Kings 14-match winning streak.

Kings setter Maddux Greves (Business Administration) started the match off with a top-spin ace that went directly to the floor on the Broncos side. Greves has the ACAC record for most aces in one match. Early on in the set, the Broncos managed to dig up a ball that was destined for the floor. Later on, middle Phillip Sutherland (Business Management) would come up with a huge block to win the rally. The Broncos really had their blocking game down to a tee as they were able to stuff some of the Kings' top hitters and found themselves up one set with a 25-23 victory.

After dropping the first set, the Kings changed up their starting rotation and early on it paid off for them as they found themselves with a five-point lead going into a timeout called by the Broncos. After a huge block on the outside to put the Broncos within two points of the Kings, Head Coach Aaron Schulha called a timeout for his squad. Even though Olds College found themselves down by two, they sure have been finding ways to stop the Kings at the net with some big blocks from every player on the court. After a return error on the Broncos, the Kings evened up the match at one apiece with a 25-21 victory.

With both teams tied up at one set apiece, this third set was a crucial point in the match. The Kings started the set out with a big lead but that slowly diminished with the Broncos finding ways to go on small runs to crawl themselves back into the game. Late in the set, Greves sent himself flying with a diving kick to save his team near the borders of the court but the Kings would lose the rally in the end. The Broncos managed to pick up the third-set victory 25-23 with a kill on the right side.

After a very quiet Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre in the first three sets, the Kings put on a show in the fourth set getting the crowd involved in the match and giving them something to cheer about as they forced a deciding fifth set. The Kings took the fourth set 25-12 after the Broncos failed to return the ball over the net on the Kings serve.

The fifth set featured a back-and-forth set as both teams found themselves with a slight lead. But the biggest point of the set was when the Kings went up 12-11 forcing the Broncos Head Coach to call a timeout. Following the break, the Broncos took the lead with three straight points and ultimately, won the set and match just a couple points later with a score of 15-13.

The Broncos player of the game went to setter Thomas Pugsley (Business Administration), who had an incredible night leading his team to victory with 35 assists.

The Kings player of the game went to outside-hitter Noah Carlson (Open Studies), who finished his night with 13 kills and five blocks.

These teams will be back in action next weekend. The Broncos will host The Kings University Eagles at 8 pm in Olds and the Kings will battle with the NAIT Ooks in Red Deer at 8 pm. Both matches are on Friday night, February 10.