The RDC volleyball program put their names in the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association history book Saturday evening.
The Kings and Queens are the first two teams from the same college to win the national volleyball championship in the same year. Montmorency College of Quebec did in it 2006 in basketball.
To make it more interesting both national finals were against Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference opponents.
The Queens downed the Grande Prairie Wolves 25-17, 25-21, 25-19 in Toronto almost a hour before the Kings disposed of the host Briercrest Bible College Clippers 25-20, 25-19, 25-18 in Moose Jaw, Sask.
It was the 11th national title for the Kings, once again breaking a tie they held with Limoilou College of Quebec City. The Kings won their last CCAA title in 2007, which was their record-setting eighth in a row. The Kings, who were second last year, also have two seconds and three third place medals.
The Queens have two gold and are the only team outside of Quebec to win more than once. Their first championship came in 1984 when Cor Ouwerkerk’s squad won the title in Quebec. It was the only time a team outside of Quebec won between 1978-2006. During that time the Queens also finished second seven times and third four times.
After Talbot Walton took over the Queens they finished third in 2010.
But despite all the previous medals Saturday was special.
“This speaks volumes about our coaching staff and our players,” said RDC director of athletics Keith Hansen. “Winning a national championship is darn special and becoming the first school to ever win both (volleyball) titles in the same year is a real feather in our cap.”
RDC is known as a volleyball school, but Hansen believes other programs are right there.
“Take a look at our entire athletic program. The basketball Kings are in the nationals, we had the ACAC male golfer of the year (Kyle Morrison), the women’s curling team is going to the nationals and the soccer teams were right there. Overall it’s a special year.”
The gold was also the first for Kings head coach Aaron Schulha, who replaced Hansen in 2007-08.
“It’s great, but it’s really cool to see Talbot win as well,” said Schulha. “He’s put in a lot of time to get here. We work closely together and it couldn’t happen to a better guy. Now hopefully the basketball follows suit.”
Walton was just as happy for Schulha.
“Aaron and I talked before the season and we felt we had a chance to both win provincial titles, but you never know what can happen once you get to the nationals. We had a tough road, but to join the boys at the top is a neat thing.”
drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com