Women's Volleyball Weekend Recap | February 4, 2018
The Lakeland Rustlers Women's Volleyball team's undefeated season has come to an end, as they split their weekend series against the NAIT Ooks. The Rustlers defeated the Ooks Friday night in 3 sets (25-21, 25-13, 25-21) in Lloydminster. Saturday night in Edmonton, the Ooks handed the Rustlers their first loss of the season as they defeated the Rustlers in 4 sets (21-25, 25-20, 20-25, 23-25).
Friday night, the Rustlers defeated the Ooks in 3 sets (25-21, 25-13, 25-21). The teams would go back and forth to start the match, with the teams tying the score at 7 in the first set. The Rustlers would then take a 9-7 lead and force the Ooks to call a timeout. The Rustlers extended their lead to 12-7, but the Ooks fought back, cutting the Rustlers lead to one, 15-14. The two teams would tie at 18 and go back and forth for the next few points of the set before the Rustlers were able to pull away with the 25-21 win.
The Rustlers were dominant in the second opening a 20-12 lead. The Rustlers would then outscore the Ooks 5-1 to win the set, 25-13. The teams would go back and forth to start the third set before the Rustlers took a 16-13 lead. The teams would continue to go back and forth for the rest of the set, but the Ooks could never overcome the deficit, as the Rustlers took the set 25-21.
The Rustlers were led by 4th-year outside hitter Ahnika Kuse with 15 kill, three digs, two service aces and a block and 4th-year outside hitter Shelby Becker had seven kills, 11 digs, and two service aces. 4th-Year setter Rae Sigurdson had 30 assists for the Rustlers.
Friday night, the Rustlers got big plays from several of their role players, including 2nd-year libero Hailee Mckenna and 3rd-year outside hitter Tawnee Dupuis.
Following the match, Mckenna spoke about being a role player on this team. "It is always hard being a role player and going in and having to be perfect in the moment that you are in," Mckenna said, "but I think that it is important to take a deep breath while you are in and its just like you are playing with your team at practice and take it like that, and then I find it a lot easier if you do that, you aren't so hard on yourself because you do have a limited time to go in and be the best that you can."
The Rustlers lost their first match of the season Saturday night in Edmonton, as the Ooks defeated them in 4 sets (21-25, 25-20, 20-25, 23-25). Leading the Rustlers was 3rd-year right side Avery Maginel with 13 kills, four digs, and two service aces. Becker added ten kills and 15 digs for the Rustlers. Sigurdson distributed the ball for the Rustlers, finishing the match with 42 assists and nine digs, while 2nd-year libero Olivia Thomson had 20 digs.
The Rustlers look to bounce back from their loss next weekend as the face the University of Alberta – Augustana Vikings. The Rustlers will host the Vikings Friday night at 6:00 pm before traveling to Camrose Saturday night to face the same Vikings team.