The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens volleyball brought their A-game on Wednesday night.
In front of a loud crowd at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre, the Queens swept the number-three ranked Humber College Hawks 3-0 at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women’s Volleyball National Championships.
In the quarter-finals, the Queens fed off the crowd winning in straight sets 25-22, 25-13, and 25-14.
Queens outside hitter Emma Holmes was named player of the game after recording an incredible 22 kills and nine digs.
She told The Advocate it felt amazing to win their first game of the tournament.
“I think we’ve worked so hard all year and now we’re just channelling all of that into this weekend,” she said. “I think we showed how much we really do want it and we were able to really show that tonight.”
In what could arguably be the loudest game played at the Polytechnic this season, Holmes said the crowd gave them a big boost.
“It’s just such a cool experience to play at home at nationals and have all your family and friends here,” she added.
“You just feel so much support and there’s really nothing like playing at home with a big crowd. We fed off their energy.”
In her fifth and final year of eligibility, Holmes said it’s meant a lot to compete at nationals so she wanted to leave it all out on the court.
Queens head coach Talbot Walton said he loved Holmes’ performance and that she excelled at finding the open spots to score points.
“When you get that kind of production from a power hitter it’s helpful to then spread our offence around,” he said.
“She knew coming back this season that it was about these moments at the end of the season. I think that leadership piece she brings and that stability she’s had for the last six or seven weeks really helped us grow as a group.”
The Queens also played a strong defensive game led by libero Francesca Sandini with 17 digs. Queens setter Emma Letkeman was close behind with 12 digs of her own.
Walton said they’ve been fortunate knowing they were going to be playing at nationals as the host team. They’ve had a season to prepare and it showed in their first game.
Although, they knew they would have their hands full taking on the Hawks who won their second straight Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Women’s Volleyball Championship in February.
“I thought we matched up really well against [Humber]. They’re historically a very physical team that knows how to play good volleyball. Their record shows that this season with 21 straight wins,” he said.
“We had to make sure that we were taking care of ourselves and just put some pressure on them, create some adversity for them, and I thought we did a pretty good job of that.”
The Queens will now face the Vancouver Island University Mariners in the semi-finals on Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.
The Mariners, who are ranked the second-best team in the country, defeated the University of King’s College Blue Devils on Wednesday night.
“I don’t imagine it’s going to get much easier for us,” Talbot said.
”We have a tough side of the draw getting past Humber. Historically, VIU has always been a strong program… They’ll be a tough go for us. We’re going to have to play at another level yet again.”
