Some of the best college volleyball in Canada is being played right here in Red Deer.
The RDP Kings continued their Alberta Colleges Athletic Association dominance with a three-sets to one victory (19-25, 25-23, 25-10, 25-16) over the Medicine Hat College Rattlers in Medicine Hat. The Kings are 12-1 on the year and are the second-ranked team in Canada.
In Saturday's win, ACAC leading outside attack Colby Nemeth had another strong night with 15 kills. The Red Deer product also added three aces and one stuff block. Nemeth leads the ACAC with 4.42 kills-per-set.
Middle Owen Langberg had five kills, five blocks and one kill. Outside hitter Nic Possingham had four kills, five aces and four blocks in the win.
The Queens also picked up a win on the road in Medicine Hat Saturday, sweeping the Rattlers (25-16, 25-11, 25-23).
Lauren Junck led the Queens with 11 kills. Junck, the third-year outside from Red Deer, sits third in the ACAC with 3.55 kills-per-set.
Queens outside hitter Marin Walton also had a strong match, with five kills, four aces and one block.
Queens outside hitter Sarah Mistol also chipped in 10 kills and a block in the victory.
The Queens have won nine matches in a row and will play the SAIT Trojans for a pair of matches on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. Friday's match is in Calgary, while Saturday, the matches get underway at 6 p.m. at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre, with the Kings to follow.
Both RDP basketball teams bounced back with wins over the Rattlers at home.
The Queens earned a dominant 74-48 victory Saturday.
Jayden Demchuk had a strong night for the Queens with 22 points, eight rebounds, two steals and one assist. Guard Avery Stypula was also big off the bench with 15 points, six assists, one rebound and one steal.
The Queens shot 39.4 per cent from the field, 26.7 per cent from three and 71.4 from the free-throw line.
RDP downed the Rattlers 99-83, with four starters in double figures. Deandre Rowe led the way for RDP with 21 points, five assists, four rebounds, and three steals. Cole Wicker also had a strong night with 21 points, four assists, four steals and four rebounds. José Mauro Barrozo Júnior nearly had a double-double with 16 points, nine rebounds nine rebounds and five assists. Zayne Vernon chipped in 14 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block.
The Kings shot 48 per cent from the field, 24 per cent from three and 72.4 per cent from the field.
The Kings and Queens will host the SAIT Trojans on Friday night at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre, with tip off set for 6 p.m. Both teams will travel to Calgary on Saturday to conclude the home-and-home matchup.
Both RDP hockey teams lost one-goal thrillers Saturday night.
The Queens dropped a 4-3 contest to the Lakeland College Rustlers in Lloydminster.
Lakeland opened the scoring just 35 seconds into the game, before Mia McGregor responded art the 5:10 mark of the first.
The Rustlers scored twice in the opening 10 minutes of the second, before Tasha Barsby responded for RDP. Lakeland extend its advantage just prior to the midway point of the third, but the Queens responded again 38 seconds later, with a goal from Alli Soyko.
Queens goalie Izzy Palumbo made 36 saves in the loss. The Queens were 0-for-6 on the power play and were outshot 28-12 in the final 40 minutes of the game.
The Queens are 10-7 on the season, they sit third in the ACAC and have already locked up a playoff spot. They will play the NAIT Oooks in a pair of games next weekend. Friday, puck drop is 7 p.m. at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.
The Kings suffered a hard-luck loss on home ice Saturday, falling 6-5 to the Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder in a shootout.
RDP led after 20 minutes, with a goal from Kevin Minnoch.
The Thunder scored twice in the opening minute of the second, followed by a tally at 4:25 to open up a 3-1 lead.
Deegan Mofford notched a power play goal just over two minutes later to cut the deficit and Ryland McNich tied the game at three at 9:20.
The Thunder had a 4-3 lead after 40 minutes and again scored in the opening minute of the period, with a goal just 28 seconds into the third.
Kasey Hiemstra scored for RDP and Nolan Doell tied the game on the power play at the 8:49 mark of the third.
The Thunder won the game in a seven-round shootout. RDP outshot the Thunder 52-30 and went 2-for-7 on the power play and 6-for-6 on the penalty kill.
With six games remaining, the Kings have a 9-9 record and sit third in the ACAC. with 29 points, the Kings are two points up on NAIT and seven points back of the Briercrest College Clippers.
The Kings will play the University of Alberta-Augustana Vikings Friday in Camrose, before hosting the Vikings on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.
