Lakeland Rustlers rise to challenge against RDP Queens in ACAC volleyball semis

February 23, 2024 – The Lakeland College Rustlers shook off a first-set loss and went on to beat the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens in the second semifinal of the night Friday at the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women's Volleyball Championships at Lethbridge College. In taking away the 3-1 win, the defending national champions secured a spot in the gold-medal match Saturday night. 

Rustlers Head Coach Austin Dyer says the team benefitted from its veteran players and experience in bouncing back after the first-set loss. Between the sets, he said the team talked about how "we've been here before – so there was no panic or frustration. And that only comes from experience. And once we started to turn it around, you can see us put our foot on the gas, and then it was just go-time from there." 

Dyer says after the Rustlers won the national championship in 2017, the team the next year was focused on returning to defend the title and "we didn't take the time to enjoy that year. I wanted to make sure to send the message that this year is about making sure we enjoy every single day, and we try to be the best that we can be each night. I've been trying to drive home the whole year that we have to enjoy this. Yeah, we need to make sure that we enjoy every piece of this." 

Earlier in the season, the Rustlers beat the Queens 3-0. 

In the first set, the Queens got off to a quick 3-0 start, and never gave up the lead. With fast pacing and well-placed hits, the Queens built their lead from 6-3 to 16-10 to 21-13 before the Rustlers called a timeout. The Rustlers came back on the court focused and fiery, chipping away at the Queen's lead and showing why they went into the championships ranked first in the nation. But they couldn't narrow the gap, and the Queens took the first set 25-18. 

The Rustlers shook off the first set loss and came out to start the second on a 7-1 run, which setter Jana Laing (fourth year, Portage la Prairie, Man., University Transfer – Bachelor of Science), an all-conference team member, took to 8-1 with an ace. The Queens answered back with three points of their own, but the Rustlers built their lead from 11-5 to 14-9 to 21-11 before the Queens called a timeout. With a rowdy crowd cheering the teams on, the Rustlers took the second set win 25-14. 

The third set was a battle between two big-swinging teams, with the Rustlers taking a 2-1 lead but the Queens quickly responding and building to a score of 6-3. Trading points, the teams tied at six and again at seven before the Rustlers took off, building their lead from 10-9 to 14-10 to 18-12 before the Queens called a timeout. After returning to the court, the Rustlers continued to dominate. The Rusters won a long rally that had both teams hustling to all corners of the court, which brought the score to 24-13, and went on to win the third set 25-13. 

In the fourth set, the Queens got off to a 2-0 start, and the teams exchanged points, tying at three, four and six. The Rustlers then went on a run, building the score from 9-6 to 11-7 before the Queens responded and added more points of their own, tying the game again at 12. But the Rustlers stayed focused and chipped away at the score, never letting the Queens overtake them and building to a 23-20 lead when the Queens called a timeout. After returning to the court, the talented teams fought for each point, with the Rustlers winning both and winning the final set 25-20.  

The 3-1 win means the Rustlers will face Ambrose University Lions in the gold-medal match tomorrow at 5 p.m., while Red Deer will play the Briercrest College Clippers in the bronze medal match at 2:30 p.m. Both games will be held in the Val Matteotti Gymnasium. 

Outside hitter Jaiden Ferguson (fourth year, Red Deer, Business Administration General) was named player of the game for the Queens. Setter Jana Laing (fourth year, Portage La Prairie, Man., University Transfer – Bachelor of Science), who was named to the all-conference team earlier in the week, was player of the game for the Rustlers. 

Players of the Game|

Queens|#9 Jaiden Feruson

Rustlers|#5 Jana Laing