WVB | Kodiaks win pair of five set thrillers

Feb. 9, 2020 - It was a weekend to remember for the Kodiaks women's volleyball team, as they swept a pair of five-set games from the Medicine Hat College Rattlers. 

Feb. 7 | Medicine Hat College 2 at Kodiaks 3

Recap written by LC Kodiaks Gameday Staff

Feb. 7, 2020 – While the year hasn't turned out quite as planned for the Lethbridge College Kodiaks women's volleyball team, Friday night's dramatic comeback offered a true season highlight. 

Dropping the first two sets by scores of 25-16 and 25-15 to the visiting Medicine Hat Rattlers, the hosts roared back to claim an impressive victory over their Highway 3 rivals. 

The Rattler's came out strong, starting the first set with a kill and ace by Megan Hoeber, forcing a Kodiaks timeout. Medicine Hat started out the set with a seven-point run. Amber Stigter added to the fire with three straight kills. Lethbridge found their rhythm by a kill and two aces from Mack Lewicki. However, the Rattlers did not go away as they forced a second timeout by the Kodiaks. Their strong performance led them to a 25-16 first set.

The match continued to be one sided as the Rattlers started the set with three strong blocks. Medicine Hat built a three-point lead. The Kodiaks kept their heads up high and competed with the Rattlers. The set became point for point as both teams had good momentum going. Medicine Hat broke the barriers and went on a five-point run. Both Brooke Christie and Amber Stigter finished the set with four kills each which lead to a 25-15 second set win.  

It was a new set for the Kodiaks as they looked to bounce back with a set win, they started strong but it was clear, they had not found an answer for the Rattler's front line. The game went on point for point. The set was tied 12-12, however, Johanna Dixon from the Kodiaks contributed two straight aces. Lethbridge found themselves up 16-12 forcing a Medicine Hat timeout. The Kodiaks kept their consistency with five kills from Jamie Brown and three kills from Lewicki. Lethbridge hung on and took the third set 25-18.

The Rattlers came out determined after dropping a set with a five-point run to start the set. The Kodiaks did not let them get too ahead as they bounced back to tie the game after a few kills from Claire Armstrong. The set remained a battle as both teams did not get ahead of one another one. Both teams found themselves tied towards the end of the set. The Kodiaks ended the set and beating the tie breaker from an ace from Lewicki. Lethbridge took the set 26-24 and tied the game two apiece. 

The Kodiaks kept their momentum as they started the fifth set with a bang. It was Jamie Brown and Rae Whitehead with two kills each that gave Lethbridge a two-point advantage. The Kodiaks would roll on the offensive and kept their confidence high. Lethbridge took the final set 15-11 as they completed their comeback to take the game three games to two. 

The teams will meet again in Medicine Hat for a rematch Saturday night at the MHC Snake Pit. 

Players of The Game:

Rattlers: #13 Dryden Gris

Kodiaks: #07 Claire Armstrong

Feb. 8 | Kodiaks 3 at Medicine Hat College 2 

Recap written by MHC Rattlers Sports Information

Feb. 8, 2020 - The Lethbridge Kodiaks headed East to Medicine Hat to take on their Highway 3 Rival Rattlers. The Kodiaks were able to come back from down 2 sets the night before to take a 5 set victory. Hoping to avenge their loss, the Rattlers looked to home court advantage to even the weekend series. The first part of the first set was uneventful with the teams simply trading side-outs and points as the score climbed up. The score was knotted at 10 with both teams giving up points on costly errors. The Kodiaks were able to create a small 2 point lead that was quickly erased by the Rattlers only to be given up again. The Kodiaks were able to open up an 18-14 lead with the help of too many unforced Rattler errors. The Kodiaks continued to hold their lead, answering every Rattlers advance. Despite this the score was still close late with the Kodiaks up 22-20. They were able to cruise to a 25-21 set win to take the first set.

The second set opened with the Kodiaks able to take an early lead. The Rattlers were able to battle back with the help of a Brooke Christie serving streak and able to open up a 12-10 lead over the Kodiaks. The back and forth game opened up once again as the teams traded serves and side-outs. The Kodaks were able to battle back to take a 2 point lead, up 18-16 as the set entered the late stages. The Kodiaks Jamie Brown was having a great game offensively for the Kodiaks converting a high percentage of her attacks and maintain the Kodiak advantage. Down 22-18 The Rattlers took their second timeout in an effort to get back in the set late. The Rattlers battled back to 23-24 and then took the next 3 points to take a 26-24 second set victory tying the match one set each

The Third set opened with the same close play on both sides of the net, each team playing much cleaner volleyball. The Rattlers were able to open up a nice 3 point lead with some solid defensive play, leading 9-7. The Kodiaks came back scoring 2 straight and reducing the deficit to 1. The back and forth nature of the two teams was evident throughout the set, but the Kodiaks found themselves up 18-16 late in the set. The Rattlers scored to bring the deficit to one, but allowed the Kodiaks to keep advantage on the next serve. The teams remained close all the way to the end, tying the set at 24, needing extra points. The Kodiaks came out on top 28-26 taking a 2 sets to 1 lead.

The fourth set opened with the Kodiaks taking a quick 2-0 lead right off the bat before the Rattlers could answer. The Rattlers rallied to tie it at 2 before the teams again settled into trading side-outs and serves once again. The teams traded winning long arduous rallies and neither were able to utilize these to gain an advantage. The Kodiaks were able to jump on the back of Claire Armstrong who served 4 straight to open up a 4 point lead. The Rattlers were able to come back and tie the set at 13 before the Kodiaks again took a small 2 point lead. Again the Rattlers erased this and tied the set up at 15. Maintaining their momentum the Rattlers opened up an 18-16 lead forcing the Kodiaks to take a timeout. The Rattlers came out of the break to serve 2 aces in a row from Amber Stigter to open up a 20-16 lead. The Kodiaks came back into striking distance, but the Rattlers turned it up again and were able to cruise to a 25-19 4^th set victory.

The Kodiaks opened up the 5^th set serving for an ace to open the set. The Rattlers responded with a point of their own followed up with an ace of their own. This was short lived as the Kodiaks jumped out to a 7-3 lead. The Rattlers started to chip away but it was late in the short set to do so. The Kodiaks extended their lead to 10-5 taking a firm control in the third set. Medicine Hat started to battle back, cutting the Kodiak lead to 2 as the set neared the end. Lethbridge held a 13-10 lead with the serve, looking to put the match away. The Kodiaks ended the match winning 15-10 taking a 3 sets to 2 victory.

The ACAC Players of the game were Johanna Dixon from Lethbridge and Amber Stigter from Medicine Hat.