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Quinn comfortable with playing libero for Queens

Coming out of high school Maddi Quinn was well prepared to take over as libero for the RDC Queens volleyball team.Quinn played libero for the Queens Club team and spent her final year with the Notre Dame Cougars as a libero.

Coming out of high school Maddi Quinn was well prepared to take over as libero for the RDC Queens volleyball team.

Quinn played libero for the Queens Club team and spent her final year with the Notre Dame Cougars as a libero.

“I played power in Grade 11, but I was a better passer and digger so I decided libero was my best position,” explained Quinn, who is one of the top defensive players in the Alberta Colleges Women’s Volleyball League.

“I knew if I was to go on (to college) I’d be a libero.”

She has 241 digs — 4.0 per set which is fifth in the conference.

The fact she played libero in club and in high school made the transition to college that much easier.

“I was a lot more comfortable,” she said.

But there were still things to learn.

“The hitters are stronger. You just can’t stand there, you have to read the hitter more and move along the block. You have to be quick in reading the plays and digging. But that makes it a lot more fun.”

Quinn, who is the younger sister of former Queen Makenzie Quinn, has always enjoyed the defensive side of the game, especially digging the ball.

“Digging is my strongest asset and diving for the ball is fun.”

Makenzie Quinn played two years with the Queens before transferring to Mount Royal, where she plays in the CIS with the Cougars.

“It would have been fun to play with her this year. The only time we played together was in basketball in high school,” said Quinn, who had no thoughts about trying out for basketball.

She also had no thoughts about not playing for the Queens.

“I like volleyball better, and I wasn’t ready to leave home. They have a good program here and I knew the systems from playing club,” she said.

Quinn is one of the younger players on the Queens, but she’s used to playing with an older group.

“I was born in ‘93 and with my birthday I had to play with the older girls in club, not with my friends,” she said. “I think it was a benefit to play with older players, but it would have been easier, and more comfortable if I would have been with my friends.”

Quinn, who is taking a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, will be at RDC at least two years.

“After that I’m not sure. I haven’t made any big plans.”

This weekend is a rivalry weekend with both the volleyball and basketball squads facing Olds College.

The volleyball squads play at Olds Friday and at RDC Saturday. The basketball is at home Friday and on the road Saturday. All matches see the women get underway at 6 p.m. with the men to follow.

The volleyball Queens, who are ranked fifth in Canada with a 16-2 record, go into the weekend needing a sweep to wrap up first place in the conference. Olds, 12-6, is sitting fourth.

“Being that high gives us motivation,” said Quinn, “We knew we could be on top this season and our goal is to stay there.”

The Kings, who are ranked No. 2 in Canada back of Douglas College of New Westminster, have already wrapped up first place in the league with a 17-1 record. Olds is 2-16.

The basketball Kings slipped to fourth in Canada after losing a pair of tight games at top-ranked Briercrest last weekend. The Kings have a 12-4 record with Olds at 5-12.

The basketball Queens are in tough as they have a 5-11 record with Olds at 12-5. Plus the Queens could have two of their top players out in Desirae Paterson and Amrei Bondzio.

• The hockey Queens return to league action in a huge home-and-home series against the NAIT Ooks.

The teams are tied for first place and meet Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Arena and Saturday at NAIT.

• The RDC track team will send several members of the team to the Alberta Indoor Games this weekend in Edmonton.

• Tanis Steinbach, who is the third on the women’s curling team, was named the Boston Pizza RDC female athlete of the week.

The second-year student from Bassano played a key role in the Queens posting a 5-1 record at the Winter Regional ‘spiel, which earned them a berth in the ACAC finals.

Quinn and basketball Sarah Williamson were also up for the award.

Second-year power hitter Chris Jones had a solid weekend as the volleyball Kings beat Briercrest twice and received the top male award.

Jones had 24 kills and 14 digs in the two matches and turned in a brilliant passing percentage.

Mari Peoples-Wong of the basketball Kings was also in the running.

The volleyball Kings received the Breathing Room Yoga Studio and Cafe team of the week honours.