CAMROSE — The RDC Kings finally lost a set.
The No. 1 team in the country lost the second set of their Alberta Colleges Men’s Volleyball League match against the University of Alberta, Augustana Vikings 20-25, but that was the only setback as they won the other three sets 25-22, 25-14, 25-20.
“It was good to lose one, especially with the way we responded in the third set,” said Kings head coach Aaron Schulha.
“Overall it was a good match. There was some high quality volleyball on both sides.”
Schulha admitted he was a bit nervous before the game, especially with former King Jordan Gardiner starting in the middle for the Vikings.
“I didn’t know how the guys may respond being up against Jordan, but they kept their focus.”
They also kept their focus despite a noisy and anti-Red Deer atmosphere.
“It was a good atmosphere,” said Schulha.
“Their men’s basketball team came out and got on us a bit, but again the guys were good and responded well.”
Setter Sam Brisbane was the RDC player of the match with a kill, two aces, nine digs and a stuff block. Tim Finnigan had 18 kills.
The Kings are 11-0 on the season and 33-1 in sets.
Queens 3 Vikings 1
The Queens ran their record to 13-0 with a 19-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-21 victory over the Vikings.
“They play a different style in terms of blocking and defence and we didn’t adapt as quickly as we hoped,” said Queens head coach Talbot Walton.
“We talked about trusting ourselves in terms of handling a different look, but we had a lull in the middle of that first set and didn’t come back. But we found ourselves after that set and played well.
“Now we hope to play even better on Saturday.”
RDC hosts the Vikings Saturday with the women getting underway at 6 p.m. with the men to follow.
Brooke Sutter was the Queens player of the match with nine kills and 22 digs and Maddi Quinn had 27 digs.
Amber Adolf 13 had kills, Alex Donaghy 10 Karissa Kuhr eight, Megan Schmidt six and Miranda Dawe five.