The Queens lose a nail biter against the Briercrest Clippers

The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens looked strong in the first two sets against the Briercrest Clippers but were not able to close out the match. Ultimately, they would lose in five sets to the Saskatchewan-based team.

The Queens won the match last night against the Clippers 3-1 (23-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-23). Briercrest would lose the first two sets of the match but came back strong in the third, fourth and fifth game to come away with the win against Red Deer.

It was a very slow start to this second match of the weekend between these two teams. The first set was a back-and-forth battle. The Clippers and Queens were swinging away but also coming up with key blocks in all stages of the set. After the Queens took a 24-22 lead, the Clippers managed to claw back to tie it at 24 with a big block on the outside. This put everything on the line and was a fight to see who would crack first to gain that two-point lead to win the set. The Queens were able to get the next two points to take the game 26-24 after a Clippers outside-hitter got called for net contact on her attack.

The Queens would take that momentum into the second set and go up 13-6 after an 8-4 run. This would cause the Clippers to call a timeout and regroup. However, the Queens stood strong going on a 7-1 run after the brief break enroute to a Red Deer 25-11 second set victory over Briercrest. This would put the Queens up two sets to zero over the Clippers.

At the start of the third game, it was quite evident the Clippers did not want to get swept and were not going away easily. They were blocking, digging and hitting the ball well. Head Coach Talbot Walton called a timeout to regroup the Queens after Briercrest would take an early four-point (10-6) lead.  After the brief break, the Clippers would go on an impressive 10-3 run, putting Briercrest up 20-9. The Queens would cut into that lead, but they would not be able to tie the game. The Clippers would take the third set 25-19 and force a fourth set.

Briercrest would take the momentum into the fourth set and managed to get an early six-point lead (11-5) over the Queens, forcing Walton to call a timeout. The Queens managed to go on a 15-9 run to come even with the Clippers at 20. But Briercrest was able to gain a two-point lead causing Walton to call his final timeout in hoping it would halt the Clippers attack and spark the Queens on the court. After being down two sets, the Clippers win the fourth set 25-22 and would force the fifth and final game of the match.

With the fifth and final set only going to 15, it puts both teams to the test. The Clippers and Queens were each taking turns leading the game and were both coming back to tie it. Both teams were digging up the ball at the last second to keep their squad in the rally. Briercrest would take a 13-10 lead over Red Deer which would cause Walton to call a timeout for the Queens. Red Deer would battle to within one point of Briercrest but the Clippers would get to match point, forcing Walton to call his final timeout. Ultimately, the Clippers make the comeback with a 15-13 fifth set victory. They would take the match 3-2 over the Queens.

Clippers middle-blocker Rachel Stead and Queens libero Frankie Santini each earned themselves a player of the game award

Stead finished with 13 kills and six digs and Santini had an impressive 20 digs on the match.

Clippers middle-block Rachel Stead was awarded the player of the game for her team after finishing the match with 13 kills and six digs.

The Queens will have a bye next week which means their next match will be on Friday October 28 when they take on the Rattlers at Medicine Hat College.

The match will start at 6 pm and will be livestreamed on ACACTV.