Shorthanded Kings defeat Lions in Calgary

Brent Forster – Red Deer Polytechnic Athletics

Calgary, AB – Friday's match against the Ambrose University was the perfect opportunity for some young Kings to step up.

Without several key players in the lineup, including middles Cody Boulding and Dillon Gauci, the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings showed perseverance and downed the Lions in four sets (25-23, 25-18, 21-25, and 29-27).

Ockerman (15)

The absence of Boulding and Gauci gave Elk Point's Evan Ockerman an opportunity. The first-year Bachelor of Science student made an impact, accumulating seven kills, one dig, and one block from the middle. He had a 0.545 hitting percentage and capped off the opening set with a kill.

Outside hitters Brett Lower and Reece Lehman helped power the RDP offence with 12 kills each.

Greves (4)

Kings setter Maddux Greves recorded all five of the team's aces. The Business Administration student added 39 assists, six digs, and three kills.

Possingham (6)

First-year Nicholas Possingham received the Kings Player of the Game award. The six-foot-seven Bachelor of Arts Psychology student pounded nine kills, along with two assists, two digs and a block.

Nikita Marchenkov was selected for the Lions, totaling 11 kills (0.364) and eight digs. Kade Miller paced Ambrose University's offence with 13 kills. Joshua Nickel added 10. Emmitt Juul-Hansen had four of the Lions' eight service aces.

The first place Kings (8-1) will face the Lions (1-6) in a rematch at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre on Saturday, January 22 at 6 pm.