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RDP Kings volleyball capture ACAC gold

The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings volleyball program are provincial champs once again and will have yet another chance at national supremacy.
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The RDP Kings finished fourth at the ACAC Men’s basketball championships over the weekend. (Photo by RDP Athletics)

The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings volleyball program are provincial champs once again and will have yet another chance at national supremacy.

The Kings topped the field at the Alberta Colleges Athletic Association men’s volleyball championship in Edmonton at NAIT over the weekend. It was the second provincial gold in a row for the program and 20th overall.

RDP turn its game up a notch in the ACAC playoffs and they were able to take down the NAIT Ooks in four sets (25-22, 24-26, 25-22 and 27-25) to capture gold.

“We had to grind through some error-filled moments and I think that will serve us well moving forward,” Kings coach Aaron Schulha told RDP Athletics.

“It was one of those times where we didn’t play our best volleyball, but everyone contributed at key times and we are back-to-back ACAC Champions, once again.”

Outside hitter Reece Lehman of Red Deer was outstanding in the match with 18 kills. He earned player of the game honours for RDP. He added two digs, one block, two assists and five of the team’s 10 service aces

Both outside hitter Nicolas Possingham and Dillon Gauci recorded nine kills each. Red Deer’s Brett Lower chipped in with six. Setter Maddux Greves picked up 39 assists, two aces, one kill and a dig.

The Kings will challenge for their 14th national title at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Men’s Volleyball National Championship from March 25-27 in Quebec.

“I’m really proud of this group and very much looking forward to seeing what kind of noise we can make in Quebec at CCAA Nationals,” said Schulha.

The RDP Kings came up sort at the ACAC men’s basketball championships in Calgary. The Kings fell 100-88 to the Keyano College Huskies on Friday and lost 82-79 in the bronze medal game. ACAC Men’s Basketball South Player of the Year Tyronn King recorded a double-double with a team-high 27 points and 10 rebounds. Eduardo Crespo, ACAC South Rookie of the Year, added 24 points. Fifth-year Cody White chipped in with 17 points in the loss to Keyano.

In Saturday’s loss, White picked up 15 points and three rebounds. King led the RDP with 22 points. Crespo added 17. Rocky Mountain House’s Payton Baltzer had 10 points.