WVB Weekend Recap | January 3 & 5, 2019
The Lakeland Rustlers Women's Volleyball team returned to the court over the weekend as they traveled to Camrose to take on the Augustana Vikings. The Rustlers played both games in the weekend series in Camrose, as the Rustlers hosted the Vikings for two games back in November.
Thursday night, both teams returned to the court for their first league matches of the second semester. It was a hard fought, five set match with the Rustlers coming out on top 3-2 (25-23, 25-19, 21-25, 18-25, 15-9). The Rustlers led for much of the first set, before letting the Vikings come back to tie the score at 23. The Rustlers were able to score the next two points and take the first set. In the second set, the Rustlers once again took the lead early. This time, the Rustlers would not let the Vikings back in, taking the set 25-19. The Vikings took the lead early in the third set, but the Rustlers would cut the Vikings lead to two, 23-21. The Rustlers, however, were not able to complete the comeback with the Vikings taking the set 25-21. The Vikings held the lead for the entirety of the fourth, on the way to taking the set 25-18 and tying the match at 2-2. In the fifth set, the Rustlers showed determination and dominated the set, winning the set 15-9.
The Rustlers were led by fifth-year outside hitter Ahnika Kuse with 14 kills and 17 digs, while fifth-year outside hitter Shelby Becker added 12 kills and seven digs, earning her Player of the Game for the Rustlers.
The teams returned to the court Saturday night in the rematch. The teams went back and forth in the first set, with the Vikings coming out on top 25-23. The Rustlers dominated the second set, winning 25-13. The crowd started to play a factor in the third set, disrupting the Rustlers. The Rustlers were able to keep the set close, but it was the Vikings again who won 25-21. The fourth set was a must win for the Rustlers, to force a fifth set. The score was close for the entirety of the set, with the teams trading points. In the end, the Rustlers made mistakes when it mattered most, dropping the set 25-23, and losing the match 3-1 (25-23, 13-25, 25-21, 25-23).
The Rustlers were led by Becker with 12 kills and 14 digs, while 3rd-year setter Bailee Weiler added 11 kills and four digs. Player of the Game for the Rustlers was fourth-year middle Avery Maginel, who had five kills and five digs in the match.
The Rustlers look to get back to their winnings ways this weekend against the Concordia Thunder. The Rustlers return to the court Friday night at 6:00 pm, in their first game at home of the semester.