Rattlers volleyball prepping for provincials, futsal returns to ‘Snake Pit’

The Rattlers are coming off a pair of hard-fought games against the Lethbridge College Kodiaks over the weekend, losing both matches in the fifth set.

Even though the results aren’t necessarily what she’d like them to be, head coach Kim Stonehouse is happy with the team’s compete level.

“We just want to be playing good volleyball,” said Stonehouse. “As long as we can compete and keep that level of compete up, that’s what I think is going to help us going into the post-season.”

Saturday’s game at MHC was exploding with energy from the packed crowd, who clamoured during the fourth set in response to a wild comeback push from the Rattlers to force a fifth.

“We have a great atmosphere to play in at home and I think it’s even going to get better going into the playoffs,” said Stonehouse. “I know that other teams don’t like playing here because of our fans. So, that’s a feather in our hat and something we can use to our advantage.”

Stigter was named MHC’s player of the game with 16 kills and 10 digs, which were both game-highs.

Although they already have their playoff berth secured due to being the host team, the Rattlers still sit top four in the ACAC South Division with an 8-12 record.

With only four games left on the regular season schedule, Stigter said the team needs to be locked in mentally focused on the task at hand.

“We need to go into these games as hard as we can,” said Stigter. “It’s only going to get tougher from here, we have all the teams from the north coming down too. So, getting the opportunity to play these last four games will definitely speed us up for playoffs.”

The Rattlers men’s volleyball team came just four points short of ending their five-game losing streak on Saturday meanwhile, falling in five sets (27-25, 22-25, 27-25, 23-25, 15-11) to the Kodiaks.

Lethbridge College’s Carter Hansen stole the show with a game-high 28 kills in victory, while Serbians Aleksa Zivic and Jovan Stepanovic combined for 31 kills for the Rattlers.

Also falling to the Kodiaks in Lethbridge on Friday night, MHC has lost eight of their last nine matches and sit fifth in the ACAC South with a 4-16 record.

Rattlers volleyball teams will play their final home games of the regular season on Friday night against Ambrose University at the ‘Snake Pit’ with matches at 6:00 and 8:00 pm.

Rattlers futsal

Photo courtesy of Scott Roblin

Rattlers fans were treated to a rare sight on Sunday, as they saw their futsal teams in action for the first time in years.

Both the men’s and women’s teams hosted the Lethbridge College Kodiaks for a pair of exhibition games, both won by MHC by 3-2 and 4-1 scores.

A three-year veteran with the Rattlers men’s futsal squad, captain Stephen Copeland said it was a long time coming.

“We haven’t had a game here in three years, so it’s big,” said Copeland. “Seeing all the fans here, I hope it just means in the future we could have a tournament possibly and more support for the sport.”

The Rattlers have played in two tournaments in Three Hills and Olds so far this year, with the women’s team posting a glowing 5-1-1 record and the men’s side picking up a tournament gold medal at the Prairie College Invitational.

“We’re working a lot on our first touch,” said head coach Robert Cavicchia. “In a smaller space, that’s what seemed to have let us down often as we began training. That’s gotten better and better as we’ve gone along.”

Although their matches against the Kodiaks were just exhibition tilts, they served as one last tune up for the Rattlers ahead of the ACAC Championships next month.

Combining to allow just three goals over the two games, women’s team captain Kaylei Hole said the program has upped their defensive game over the last few weeks.

“Our defensive game is pretty strong,” said Hole. “We don’t have a ton of defenders on the team, but everyone has been able to adapt. Everyone plays everything, so everyone is pretty strong at everything.”

MHC will be looking for redemption in Lloydminster this year after being shut out of the medals last year, the first time that’s happened since 2013.

“We’re really in a good place,” said Cavicchia. “We’ve definitely progressed really well and I think we’ll do really well in that tournament.”

The Rattlers won five consecutive women’s ACAC titles between 2014 and 2018, while the men’s program was crowned Alberta champion in 2017.

Lakeland College will host 2020 ACAC men’s and women’s futsal provincials from March 13 to 15.

Rattlers basketball

For the first time this season, the Rattlers men’s basketball team can boast holding a win streak after sweeping their weekend games at Olds College.

Kieron Burgess recorded a triple-double in MHC’s 96-77 victory on Friday to snap an eight-game losing streak putting up 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 steals against the Broncos.

First-year guard Zavier Croft came through with 15 points off the bench, followed by double-digit efforts by both David Kent-Canalejo and Jevon Fray-Woodbine as well.

He followed that up with a 17-point performance on Saturday night, while rookie Eidan Jonker had his best game of the season with 16 points and three rebounds in an 85-72 victory.

Posting back-to-back wins for the first time since last spring, the Rattlers men’s squad has improved their record to 4-14 on the year.

A pair of tough losses on the road for the Rattlers women’s basketball team over the weekend meanwhile, swept in both of their games against the powerhouse Broncos.

MHC struggled to get their offence going on Friday night in the series opener with just 15 points in the second half, being blown out by an 80-39 final.

Katelyn Rozdeba was the lone Rattlers player to reach double-digits with 10 points, going alongside Tatiana Dutka’s nine points and 13 rebounds.

It was a much closer affair on Saturday with the Rattlers climbing within 10 points of the Broncos, however it was the same result dropping a 76-66 decision.

Sophomore guard Rhiannon Ware was perfect from the free throw line with a team-high 20 points, however reigning CCAA player of the year Brittney Thibeaux dominated with 35 points in the win for Olds College.

Falling back to a 9-9 record, the Rattlers women’s squad is tied for third in the ACAC South with Lethbridge College but have their playoff spot locked up due to hosting provincials.

Three games remain in the regular season for both Rattlers basketball teams, welcoming the St. Mary’s University Lightning to town on Saturday night with games at 6:00 and 8:00 pm.

by Scott Roblin

Rattlers volleyball prepping for provincials, futsal returns to ‘Snake Pit’

Rattlers futsal

Rattlers basketball

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