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Rattlers bested by Trojans at home, lose Evans to injury

Nov 24, 2018 | 10:39 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Nothing going the way of the Medicine Hat College Rattlers men’s volleyball team on Friday night, losing both their match against the SAIT Trojans and one of their rising young stars.

The Rattlers fell in four sets to SAIT (19-25, 26-24, 25-13, 25-22) while rookie standout KeAndre Evans went down with injury late in the match.

Both sides played a tight first set, until the Rattlers came alive with Alfred Dalevik leading the charge to a five-point lead, forcing the Trojans to take a handful of timeouts.

Medicine Hat would eventually roll to a 25-19 victory over the Trojans, jumping ahead 1-0 to start the match on the right foot.

The second set proved to be even closer with the score tied at 24-24 late, however it was the Trojans this time getting the better of the Medicine Hat crew with back-to-back points to tie up the match.

SAIT came out swinging in the third set with a 13-7 lead, which was eventually grown to a 10-point lead in the later stages of the set.

Evans gave the Rattlers some life with a big kill, but the Trojans proved to be too much with a dominant 25-13 victory to gain their first lead in the match.

Medicine Hat battled to a 19-19 tie in the fourth match facing elimination when the Rattlers lost Evans, rolling his ankle following a serve.

His night was over, as was his teammates shortly afterwards, suffering a 25-22 defeat to lose to the Trojans in four sets.

Despite missing the last few minutes of the fourth set, Evans led his squad with 10 kills and five digs, though there is no word on the severity of his injury.

Dropping to a record of 6-5 in league play, the Rattlers were leapfrogged on Friday night by SAIT into third place in the South Division.

It was a quick evening for the Rattlers women’s volleyball team also, as they saw their night ended by the Trojans in three sets (25-17, 25-22, 25-18).

SAIT scored four straight points midway through the first set to take a commanding lead, eventually earning five of the last six points of the 25-17 set to put the Rattlers down early.

After some sloppy play to begin the second set, the Rattlers found their groove and built up an 18-13 lead over the Trojans.

Medicine Hat wasn’t able to finish the job however, with SAIT scoring five consecutive points to tie things up at 18-18 and eventually winning the set 25-22.

That seemed to kill any momentum the Rattlers were generating, unable to rally in the third with their backs against the wall to drop the set 25-18 and lose the match in three sets.

The Rattlers were only able to convert on 18 kills against the Trojans defence, with Amber Stigter posting eight of those kills.

Franchise digs record holder Shaya Suchy meanwhile led the Rattlers once again defensively, registering nine digs on the night.

Also falling to a 6-5 record on the season, Medicine Hat is tied with the Red Deer College Queens for the final playoff spot in the South Division with 12 points.

The Rattlers will play their final matches of 2018 on Saturday night, travelling to Calgary to complete their home and home series with the Trojans.