WVB Weekend Recap | November 23 & 24, 2018
The Lakeland Rustlers Women's Volleyball team faced the University of Alberta – Augustana Vikings over the weekend, in what would be the final games of the first semester for the Rustlers.
Friday night the Rustlers came out looking to get back to their winning ways coming off of their first loss of the season last weekend. The Rustlers took control of the first set early on, opening up a 9-6 lead. From there, they would go on to extend their lead to 17-10, forcing the Vikings to call a timeout. The Vikings weren't able to get any closer, as the Rustlers took the set 25-11. The Rustlers once again opened up a lead early on in the second set, forcing the Vikings to call several timeouts. The Vikings were able to chip away at the Rustlers lead, but the Rustlers proved to be too strong, winning the set 25-17. The two teams would go back and forth early on to start the third set. The Rustlers took the lead at 15-12, forcing the Vikings to take a timeout. This would prove to be the turning point of the set, as the Rustlers would open up a 22-15 lead, on the way to taking the set 25-16, and the match 3-0.
Fifth-year outside Ahnika Kuse led the Rustlers with 12 kills, five digs, two service aces, and a block. Player of the Game for the Rustlers was 5th-year setter Rae Sigurdson, who finished the match with 29 assists, five digs, two service aces, a kill, and a block.
The teams matched up Saturday night in Lloydminster, with the Rustlers continuing their dominant performance from Friday night in the first set. The Rustlers opened up a large lead and never looked back, taking the set 25-13. The Vikings showed improvement in the second and were able to stick with the Rustlers for much of the set. In the end, the Vikings serving struggles would cost them the match, as the Rustlers took it 25-20. In the third set, the Vikings serving improved, while the Rustlers struggled with their serve receive. The Vikings controlled the set, winning 25-13. The Rustlers got strong serving from Sigurdson to start the fourth set, as the Rustlers opened up a 6-0 lead. Later in the match, the Rustlers came up with several key stuff blocks, helping them extend their lead to ten. The Vikings made a push to cut into the Rustlers lead, but the Rustlers held on to win the set 25-19 and the match 3-1.
Fifth-year outside Shelby Becker led the Rustlers with 14 kills, 15 digs, and three blocks, while Sigurdson added 41 assists, seven digs, and two kills. Player of the Game for the Rustlers was Kuse with 13 kills, four digs, three service aces, a block, and an assist.
The Rustlers finished the first semester with an 11-1 match record and 34-8 set record. The Rustlers return to the court on January 3rd, when they travel to Camrose to face the Vikings.