Submitted Photo/Medicine Hat College Rattlers

By Jett Schwaier

SPORTS

The Medicine Hat Rattlers men’s volleyball team will fight for a playoff spot following the Christmas break

Dec 26, 2025 | 7:00 AM

The Medicine Hat Rattlers men’s volleyball team heads into the Christmas break looking to get a fresh start in the second half of the season.

The Rattlers finished the first semester with a 3-6 record, falling short of their own expectations but showing signs of progress late in the term.

The men’s volleyball head coach, Trever Turner, said the group plans to build off how they ended the first semester.

“Guys are working hard, and we’re gonna come back in the second half [of the season] and make a run at a playoff spot,” Turner said.

The team has 10 matches remaining in the second semester and will need to play at their best against South Division opponents.

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With Red Deer Polytechnic already in as a conference championship host, six teams remain in a tight race for the final three playoff spots.

Turner said a 7-3 record in the second semester could be enough for the Rattlers to qualify.

“Three [wins] give us ten wins, and I think that might squeeze us into the fourth spot, Turner said.

One of the highlights of the first semester came in a home match against NAIT, where the Rattlers delivered what Turner described as their most complete performance of the season.

“That’s our best match all semester, and have we played like that for the rest of them, we would have a pretty good record,” Turner said.

“I’m pretty proud of the guys for that performance.”

NAIT is hosting nationals this year, making the showing a positive benchmark for the program.

The Rattlers will return to practice earlier than usual following the holiday break on Dec. 30, 2025, before travelling to a tournament in Olds.

“We know Christmas holidays, they’re gonna eat and enjoy cookies and the baking, but we’ve asked them to make sure that they do some training over that time frame,” Turner said.

Turner said the early return is intended to help prepare the team for a challenging opening stretch of second-semester matches.

“We open up against some really strong teams right off the bat, so we’ll see, and if we play at the level that we believe we can play at, I think we’ve got a good shot at getting that seven and three record,” Turner said.

Turner said roster commitment will be critical if the team hopes to reach its postseason goals and continue building the program in the second half of the season.

“I’m still enjoying coaching. I’ve been coaching for quite a few years, and the guys work hard,” Turner said.

“No complaints. [I’m] happy with the guys, and hopefully we can do something in the second half to continue to build the program.”