RDP Athletics Sports Info
Red Deer, February 24, 2023 – In what was an exciting match, the University of Alberta-Augustana Vikings booked their ticket to the finals after a four-set victory over the Lethbridge College Kodiaks. This is the first time the Vikings will take home their first medal in program history.
It was just recently that these two teams faced off in Camrose with the Vikings coming out on top with a straight-set victory over the Kodiaks back on February 10.
The Kodiaks are coming off their first 'A' victory in program history as they came back against The Kings University Eagles to win it in five sets. The Vikings defeated the Ambrose University Lions in straight sets to reach tonight's semi-finals.
It was a very loud Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre with each fanbase competing to be the loudest fans in the stand. Whether it was the Kodiaks or Vikings who won the point, it was a championship-like atmosphere with blowhorns and cowbells ringing loud and proud.
Vikings Shae Boyes (Physical Education) had her spin serve working early on as she spun for three aces in the first ten points of the match. As the match continued on, the Kodiaks had to fight early on as they were down by a few but managed to tie it up halfway through the set to make it very close. Lethbridge College pulled ahead late in the set to have a two-point lead after outside-hitter Jamie Brown's fifth kill in the set. Augustana would call a timeout following the kill. The Kodiaks would score three consecutive points following the short break only to go back into a timeout as the Vikings used their final one of the set. Something must have sparked the Vikings in the brief break as they would go on a three-point run. The Kodiaks would take the first set 25-23 after a kill attempt went out of bounds.
Vikings middle Dj Molle would start the set off with four straight serves to give her team an early 8-4 lead. This would later lead to a 12-7 lead after more incredible serving from the Vikings which led to a timeout called by the Kodiaks. Outside-hitter Sarah Singular would continue her serving streak into yet another Kodiaks timeout. The streak stopped at six. But the Vikings stormed their way to an impressive 25-16 victory and tied the match up at one after an attack error by the Kodiaks.
The serving match continued between these two teams in the fourth set with 13 total aces among the Kodiaks and the Vikings. Boyes spin-serve was back at top form as she was able to keep the Kodiaks out of their system and serve four in a row to break the deadlock which put her team up 17-13. Lethbridge College battled hard late in the set but it was too late as the Vikings would win the set 25-19 off a huge block from Boyes on the right side.
Kodiaks setter Taryn Bach made a desperate return as she dove into her own bench to dig up a ball and middle Shane Fowlie was able to react quick enough to just put the ball over. Seconds later, Bach returned to play for a block attempt, but the Vikings put the ball into the net and the Kodiaks won the point which sent her team's bench into a frenzy. Lethbridge College would later have all the momentum on their side as the Vikings called a timeout down by four points halfway through the set. But thanks to setter Sarah Dedrick, Augustana would crawl back and tie it up at 14. The Kodiaks would pick things back up and take the lead once again in this very back-and-forth set. Boyes would send her teammates onto the floor with a match-winning kill to send the Vikings to the championship game as they defeated the Kodiaks 26-24 in what was a very tight set.
The players of the match went to Kodiaks outside-hitter Mack Lewicki and Vikings Shae Boyes. Lewicki had a double-double with 16 kills and 16 digs. Boyes was the one who picked up the final point in the match with a kill as she finished off with 18 and served for three aces.
Head Coach Stephen Enright explained it was the courage of the team that he was most proud of during the match.
"We faced adversity many times in this match specifically in the final set. But for them to come back late in the set and pull off a 26-24 victory to send the team to nationals and a chance at winning a championship makes me so proud."
With this win, the Vikings have now booked their ticket to nationals hosted by Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, BC from March 8-11. They will also face the winner of the second semi-final of the day which features the Lakeland College Rustlers and the host Red Deer Polytechnic Queens.
The Kodiaks will move on to the bronze medal match and will face the loser of the Rustlers and Queens match.