By Scott Roblin

Rattlers women’s volleyball team comes up short in playoff chase

Feb 16, 2019 | 12:56 PM

CALGARY, AB – For the sixth straight year, the Medicine Hat College Rattlers women’s volleyball team will finish on the outside looking in on the ACAC playoff picture.

Needing a sweep of their final weekend of the regular season against the SAIT Trojans, the Rattlers fell in straight sets (25-22, 25-16, 25-21) on Friday night to see their playoff hopes fade for good.

SAIT outlasted the Rattlers over the first set 25-22 to take the early lead in the match, before dominating Medicine Hat with 16 kills in the second set to take a stranglehold on the game.

The Rattlers needed a win in the third set to keep their playoff goals alive, but the Trojans once again showcased their lethal attack to take the set 25-21 and pull off a straight sets victory.

Veteran Amber Stigter was able to return for a single set on Friday after missing the previous six games due to injury, while Medicine Hat’s attack was led by six kills from both Brooke Christie and Janelle Neyron.

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Dropping to an 11-12 record, the Rattlers now know they’ll finish in fifth place in the ACAC’s South Division with the Trojans clinching the final playoff spot.

Medicine Hat will wind up the season on Saturday night at home, hosting the Trojans for their final game of the 2018-19 campaign at 6:00 pm at the ‘Snake Pit.’

The Rattlers men’s volleyball team also suffered a 3-1 loss (25-19, 33-31, 23-25, 25-19) on Friday against the Trojans, but they are still fighting for the final post-season berth in the South Division.

Falling by a 25-19 score in the opening set, the Rattlers fell behind the eight ball early against SAIT but were able to go toe-to-toe with the Calgary club in the second set.

Both sides traded chances with the marathon set needing a number of extra points, but it was the Trojans eventually taking the set by a 33-31 score despite 19 kills from the Rattlers.

Medicine Hat was able to avoid the sweep with a big 25-23 victory in the third set to stay alive, however that was short-lived with the Trojans picking up 15 kills over the final set to take the match.

KeAndre Evans had 15 kills and four digs, while Zachary Frank had one of his best games of the season with 11 kills and two digs.

Fourth-year outside hitter Alfred Dalevik remains just four digs back of the Rattlers all-time record, while he needs just a single ace to move into sole possession of second place in the team record books.

Tied with the Briercrest Clippers for fourth in the South Division with a 12-11 record, the Rattlers can clinch a playoff spot on Saturday at home with a victory over SAIT.

The men’s squad will follow the women’s regular season finale, set to take the court at 8:00 pm.