Everything went as planned for RDC Queens head coach Talbot Walton during the opening two days of the Service Plus Inns Wild Rose Classic women’s volleyball tournament.
Walton was able to use everyone on his roster, work on certain specifics, and also finish first in Pool A of the 10-team tournament.
The Queens beat NAIT 25-19, 25-18 and Douglas College of New Westminster 25-21, 25-21 Saturday to finish round-robin play with a 4-0 record.
“We felt we had a good chance of finishing first, but even if we would have been second it wouldn’t have been that bad,” said Walton.
“We were able to do what we wanted so far. Last weekend was big for us (at the University of Regina tournament) and we’re using this weekend to work on some of the things we learned there.”
Walton also used his entire bench this weekend and some of the new faces, including Lindsay Thurber grad Danielle Newton, have impressed.
“Danielle is a good athlete and has worked hard on all aspects of her game,” said Walton. “She also wants to learn and get better. I know last year she came and watched several of our games and she wasn’t there just to watch volleyball, she came to learn.”
The Queens received a bye into today’s 11 a.m. semifinal where they face the RDC Alumni.
The Alumni advanced with a 2-0 win over Keyano College in the quarter-finals Saturday evening.
The RDC Alumni finished second in Pool B with a 3-1 record. They lost 15-25, 25-23, 15-17 to Lakeland College of Lloydminster and beat Assiniboine College of Manitoba 25-16, 25-11, Olds College 25-19, 25-11 and King’s University College of Edmonton 21-25, 25-16, 25-6.
King’s and Lakeland also posted a 3-1 record with King’s finishing first.
The Other semifinal will feature Lakeland College and King’s University College.
Lakeland beat Douglas College in the quarter-final 2-0 while King’s advanced on a bye.
The final is set for 2 p.m. today.