Photo courtesy of Scott Roblin

By Scott Roblin

ACAC Volleyball

Rattlers survive Olds College comeback, stretch win streak to four

Jan 12, 2020 | 6:25 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The word ‘marathon’ often gets thrown around in five-set volleyball matches, but Saturday’s tilt between the Medicine Hat College Rattlers and Olds College Broncos was truly one for the ages.

Over two hours after it first began, the Rattlers were able to hold off a Broncos club that would not go away with a wild 3-2 victory to stretch their win streak to four games.

“Everyone hates games like these but we also love them,” said third-year middle Megan Hoeber. “It puts us all on our feet and whoever is on the floor has to show what they can do, and we did a good job.”

After dropping the afternoon’s opening set 25-17, the Rattlers dominated the next two 25-19 and 25-15 to take a comfortable 2-1 lead in the match.

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MHC however saw their lead vanish in the fourth set and a late comeback attempt of their own fell short, with Olds picking up a 25-23 win to force a deciding fifth set at the ‘Snake Pit.’

The home side jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the fifth and seemed to have found their groove again, but a Broncos timeout halted the momentum and saw the visitors tie the set at 5-5.

Despite some tense moments, the Rattlers were finally able to put the game away 17-15 to pick up the two points.

Rattlers head coach Kim Stonehouse said it wasn’t the cleanest game from her girls but does prepare them for provincials later this winter at home.

“You never want to go five necessarily,” said Stonehouse. “But, it also gives you an opportunity to get some experience in those five-set, tight matches and that’s definitely going to be helpful later on at provincials.”

Brooke Christie had a team-high 11 kills on the afternoon along with 15 digs, while Dryden Gris was named Rattlers player of the game with seven kills, three service aces, three blocks, and two digs.

Even with emotions running high between the Rattlers and Broncos over the course of the five-set tilt, Hoeber said they tried and succeeded in executing a new game plan.

“This semester we’re really working on being composed as a team,” she said. “I thought we did a really good job of that and I think it showed on the court that we just stayed level and played our own game.”

Earning their fourth consecutive win dating back to first semester, the Rattlers women’s squad has now won eight of their last 10 games after beginning the 2019-20 season with a 0-2 record.

Provincials are still well over a month away, but the MHC veterans feel like the team is finding their footing to start second semester.

“We’re kind of in a rythym now,” said Hoeber. “Everyone knows what their job is and what they’re supposed to be doing, and I think we’re just going to play like it.”

Holding down fourth place in the ACAC South with an 8-6 record, the Rattlers trail the Ambrose University Lions for third by four points.

Bouncing back

Rattlers outside hitter Aleksa Zivic serving in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Olds College (Photo courtesy of Scott Roblin)

Only boasting a roster of eight players, the Rattlers men’s volleyball team was able to respond to Friday’s five-set loss to Olds College with a 3-1 victory on Saturday afternoon.

Aleksa Zivic was a force offensively for MHC with a game-high 19 kills and four service aces in the victory, snapping a two-game slide for the Rattlers.

Winning the first two sets by scores of 25-14 and 25-18, the Rattlers let the Broncos back into the match in the third set falling 26-24.

Not much separated either school in the fourth set, however MHC was able to hang on 25-22 to win their first game since November 22.

Jovan Stepanovic also stepped up with 12 kills and six digs, while an eight-kill game was enough to net Rattlers player of the game honours to third-year middle Dexter Mackie.

Returning to the win column Saturday, the Rattlers men’s team now holds a 4-10 record and sit tied for fifth place in the ACAC South with Olds College.

The Rattlers volleyball teams kick off a home-and-home series on Friday against the SAIT Trojans in Calgary before returning to the ‘Snake Pit’ on Saturday with games at 6:00 and 8:00 pm.