First-years step up again, Kings tame Lions at Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

Brent Forster – Red Deer Polytechnic Athletics

Red Deer, AB – The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings showed their resilience and depth once again.

With their starting middles unavailable and the loss of one of their offensive leaders, the Kings had effective performances across the lineup, sweeping the Ambrose University Lions (25-18, 25-16 and 26-24).

"It was good in the sense that we are working with a new lineup based upon Pat Toze not being available for us in the second half, which is a huge loss for us," said Aaron Schulha, Red Deer Polytechnic Kings Volleyball Head Coach. "He was the MVP for us two years ago at the Conference Championships and a fifth-year leader."

The home team started strong. RDP's Maddux Greves applied service pressure in the opening set, rattling off seven consecutive serves. During that stretch, the six-foot-three setter had one ace. Greves successfully connected with outside hitter Brett Lower for seven kills (0.778 hitting percentage), which was the margin of victory (25-18).

Greves (4)

Kings six-foot-three outside hitter Reece Lehman started to receive more volume in the second set, totaling eight kills over the pair of stanzas. The home team was effective in its attack, collectively hitting for 0.511 per cent efficiency and eclipsing the visitors by nine (25-16).

The Lions challenged the Kings in the third, but the home team remained steady. Brett Lower's 14th kill sealed the set 26-24, and the match.

After the game, Schulha praised Lower's performance. In addition to the offensive production from the right side, the first-year Bachelor of Science Nursing student added four digs and two aces.

Lower (5)

The RDP Kings played their second match without middles Cody Boulding and Dillon Gauci. This gave two first-years the opportunity to contribute.

"Kyle Rix started the year as one of our opposites," said Schulha. "He's just been training as a middle over the past couple of months and looked pretty good."

Red Deer's Rix contributed four kills and an ace. Six-foot-four Evan Ockerman received another start, picking up a dig and a block from the middle.

"Maddux does a good job of finding them in good spots," added Schulha. "Our two middles did a good job this weekend."

Nicholas Possingham was named the North Star Sports Kings Player of the Game. The six-foot-seven outside hitter from South Australia finished with eight kills, seven digs, two assists, and one ace while hitting for 0.615 per cent efficiency. 

Possingham (6)

"Nic had a really strong weekend, as a guy who didn't see much floor time in the first half," explained Schulha of the Bachelor of Arts Psychology student who dealt with some injuries. "He was eight-for-13 with no errors."

Benjamin Brower received the top player honour for the Lions, accumulating nine kills (0.500), three digs, one block and an assist. Joshua Nickel also had a productive performance, chipping in with nine kills and three digs for Ambrose.

"There's always room for improvement, but we are somewhat pleased with the start to the second half," said Schulha.

The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings will play the Briercrest College Clippers next weekend. The Clippers (7-1) sit right behind the Kings in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) South Division standings.

"We know that things will get tougher throughout the second half," added Schulha. "Briercrest only has one loss on the season so far, so we know it's going to get tougher next weekend and hopefully we get a couple of important bodies back."

Schulha has been impressed with the Kings' persistence and adaptability.

"Guys have stepped up collectively," he added. "To get two wins against a pretty scrappy team without our starting middles and our P1, who we've had the last couple of years, is a step in the right direction."

On Friday, January 28, the first place Red Deer Polytechnic Kings (9-1) will entertain the Briercrest College Clippers (7-1) at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre at 8 pm.