Women's Volleyball Weekend Recap | October 30, 2017
The Lakeland Rustlers Women's Volleyball team maintained their place at the top of the ACAC North Division standings defeating the NAIT Ooks in two matches over the weekend.
The Rustlers defeated the Ooks in four sets (25-27, 25-18, 25-17, 29-27). While the Rustlers dropped a close first set, they responded to beat the Ooks decisively in sets two and three, before pulling out a tight fourth set for the victory. Fourth year outside hitter Ahnika Kuse led the Rustlers with 18 kills and added 11 digs.
The Rustlers got 11 kills from second year setter Bailee Weiler and fourth year outside hitter Shelby Becker and second year libero Olivia Thomson had 17 digs. Fourth year setter Rae Sigurdson was passing the ball well for the Rustlers, finishing the game with 41 assists, earning herself Player of the Game.
Rustlers Head Coach Austin Dyer was happy with how his team played Friday night.
"We played really well," Dyer said. "We gave up the lead in the first set and then had a chance to win it at the end but couldn't. We were in complete control of the second and third sets, and NAIT tried to come back in the fourth, but we were able to hold them off."
The Rustlers started off slow Saturday night, before finding their rhythm and taking a 12-7 lead. The Rustlers would continue to add to their lead, building increasing it to 16-8.
The Ooks capitalized on miscommunications by the Rustlers, cutting the lead to 19-15. The Rustlers responded to the Ooks push, as the Rustlers won the first set 25-20. The Ooks would come out strong in the second set, and the teams would go back and forth early on. The teams would trade points for the first half of the set before the Rustlers took a 14-10 lead.
The Ooks responded following a timeout, but the Rustlers would go on to win 25-16. The third set was once again back and forth early on. The Ooks would take the lead several times, but the Rustlers would continually respond, tying the game at 15. The teams continued to go back and forth for the rest of the set, but the Ooks got the points when they mattered most, winning 25-23.
The fourth set was controlled by the Ooks early on, as they jumped out to a 7-1 lead. The Rustlers responded, making the score 9-8. The teams would go back and forth before the Ooks would pull away, taking the set 25-19.
The momentum seemed to be on the Ooks side heading into the fifth set, but the Rustles would stay strong. The teams traded points before the Rustlers took a 10-8 lead, forcing the Ooks to call a timeout. The Ooks responded to tie the game at 10, and the teams would go back and forth before the Rustlers won 16-14.
Player of the Game for the Rustlers was #1, Olivia Thomson.
The matches Friday and Saturday were very similar, according to Dyer. Both nights, the Rustlers could have won in three, but errors caused NAIT to gain confidence, and win a set.
"We have to continue to play our style," Dyer said, "which is not making too many errors. It helped us be successful last year and will this year too."
The Rustlers (6-0) return to the court Friday, November 3, as they host the Concordia Thunder (0-4) at 6:00 pm. The Rustlers and Thunder will then face off Saturday night in Edmonton.