RDP Athletics Sports Info
Red Deer, February 25, 2023 – The Lakeland College Rustlers defeated the University of Alberta-Augustana Vikings in straight sets to pick up their third championship title in the last six years. Meanwhile, the Vikings secured a historic first for the program by earning the team first ever medal at an ACAC Championship.
These two teams faced off against each other in the final two matches of the 2022 calendar year. The Rustlers would win in three straight at home but would fall to the Vikings in five sets in Camrose.
Augustana got to the finals by defeating the Lethbridge College Kodiaks in what was a very tight four-set match. Lakeland defeated the host Red Deer Polytechnic Queens in three straight sets last night.
The Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre had one side of the stands Augustana red and the opposite side, Lakeland College green. It sure felt like a championship match in Red Deer with artificial noisemakers and pots and pans ringing loud.
Rustlers setter and last night's player of the match, Jana Laing (Bachelor of Science) would break the deadlock early with her first service ace of the match that painted the back line which sent her team on a five-point run. At 10-7, Lakeland would finish off a hard-fought rally with a kill from Lana Matthews on the outside (General Business). The Rustlers would take the momentum into a timeout called by the Vikings after jumping out to a 17-11 lead. Off a Vikings attack error, the Rustlers would take the opening set 25-17.
Vikings libero Rebecca Olenick (Bachelor of Arts in Psychology) would be able to dig up a ball with her shoulder as she tried ducking out of the way with the ball destined for her head. Unfortunately, Augustana could not rally around that unreal return and pick up the point. The Rustlers would once again break the deadlock early with an impressive service streak from outside-hitter Avery Bates (Bachelor of Education). Bates would serve out the match as the Rustlers would handily take the second set 25-13. The Vikings committed one of their 10 errors on the set-clinching point for the Rustlers.
After some miscommunications from the Vikings and incredible serving from middle Kaylie Lueck (Bachelor of Education), the Rustlers jumped out to an impressive 6-1 lead to start the third set. The Vikings were on fire during the rally at 10-4 with multiple huge digs which includes a pancake diving dig from Augustana's libero Olenick. Setter Sarah Dedrick (Physical Education) went on a serving run which put the Vikings back in the match. She would serve six straight before sending her seventh out of bounds. It was not enough as the Rustlers would win the final set 25-16 and take home the championship banner for the third time since 2017.
Head Coach Austin Dyer said it was nice to see his team play the way they did in the gold medal match. It was definitely their best performance of the championship, and I could not be more proud.
The players of the match went to Vikings Hannah Kuhn and Rustlers Seanna Trumier. Kuhn had five kills and one dig. Trumier had 13 digs and two assists as the Rustlers libero.
Following the end of the player of the game ceremony, the following players were named to the ACAC Championship All-Star team: Sam Lieuwen (The Kings University Eagles), Mack Lewicki (Lethbridge College Kodiaks), Frankie Sandini (Red Deer Polytechnic Queens), Sarah Dedrick (University of Alberta-Augustana Vikings), Lana Matthews (Lakeland College Rustlers) and Jenay Varga (Rustlers).
The most valuable player of the tournament went to setter Jana Laing, who had 30 kills in the championship final.
Both teams will move on to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women's National Championships hosted by Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, BC from March 8-11.
Good luck to both teams as they represent the ACAC at the championships. Congratulations also go out to the Vikings and Rustlers on a well-played championship match.