RDP Queens roar past Lions, remain undefeated as graduating student-athletes are recognized

Brent Forster - Red Deer Polytechnic Athletics

Red Deer, AB – In their final regular season home game, the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens showed that they will be serious contenders during the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) playoffs.

The Queens had a blistering start and eventually defeated the Ambrose University Lions in four sets (25-12, 22-25, 25-17 and 25-19).

"We wanted to see our team play at a high efficiency," said Chris Wander, Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Volleyball Interim Head Coach. "You want to be playing at a certain level that is going to be successful in the postseason and in a couple of sets we did that tonight."

The Queens delivered an effective team performance (0.330 hitting percentage).

"We passed the ball well. We served the ball well," added Wandler. "We distributed the ball well and our attackers did their job of collecting points."

In the first set, the RDP Queens jumped out to an early lead and didn't relent. The home team was strong at the net, recording five blocks and sealing a 25-12 win. Queens outside hitter Jadyn Leong and middle McKenna Olson recorded a pair of blocks each.

"We were really consistent and we wanted to focus on playing as a team," said Tess Pearman, a Bachelor of Education Elementary student. "With it being our final home game, we wanted to feel like a family on the court and I thought we really brought that out."

Pearman (8), Leong (6)

In the second set, a pair of kills from second-year outside hitter Bethany Johnson helped the Lions capture a quick two point margin (7-5). The home team chipped away. RDP outside hitter Jaiden Ferguson entered the match and provided a spark, recording a kill and helping her team jump ahead 17-15. Then the Lions' block helped them go on a 10-5 run (25-22), wrapping up the set and evening up the match.

"In the second set, we kind of lost track a little bit, but we dug deep. It was a good mental learning experience moving forward," added Pearman. "Dropping that second set and being able to come back and get the final two - it sets us up really well moving into provincials and nationals."

The Queens continued to capitalize on the strong play from outside hitter Pearman (11 kills) to capture the third set 25-17. Madeline Williscroft led the Lions offence with eight kills.

Ambrose University's Brandi Hanna, from Fort St. John, received more volume and picked up her eighth kill in the fourth set. The Polytechnic's setter Emma Letkeman (44 assists) kept in rhythm with Pearman (16 kills) and Anna Carlson (13 kills), and the Queens sealed a 25-19 decision to win the match.

"All-in-all, I think it was a good indication of where we are at," explained Wandler. "A couple of weeks out from our first playoff game, it's a good spot to be in."

Along with her double digit kill performance, North Star Sports Queens Player of the Game Carlson added two aces, two digs and two blocks, while impressively finishing with a 0.545 hitting percentage.

Carlson (11)

"She's one of the most dominant right sides in our conference and pretty early she asserted that with a couple of big blocks and some tremendous transition. Anna just put the ball away," said Wandler. "She really was a force. Defensively she played a solid match. She passed the ball and really stepped up. It was a great performance on her part."

Wandler appreciated the collective effort on defence.

"We transitioned the ball really well – digging the ball," added Wandler. "Domoney was a big part of that"

Fifth-year Kaylee Domoney, who will be graduating at the end of the season, contributed nine digs in another outstanding match.

Entering the 2021/2022 campaign, Domoney sat ninth in ACAC Women's Volleyball history with 1,005 digs. She has steadily moved up to fifth in the rankings (1,135 digs), with one regular season match remaining in this year's 16 game schedule. In the 2019/2020 season, women volleyball teams played 24 regular season matches.

Domoney (3)

Libero Nova VanSoest picked up the top player recognition for the visitors, accumulating five digs. Madeline Williscroft powered the Lions' offence with nine kills. 

The first place Red Deer Polytechnic Queens (15-0) will meet the second seed Kodiaks (8-4) on February 12 at 2 pm in Lethbridge in the final regular season match.

It was Pearman's final regular season home game in a Queens' uniform.

"Definitely bittersweet. Making the switch from MacEwan to Red Deer was probably the best decision I could have made," she stated. "In my first-year here, we won national bronze. The coaching staff and long friendships – these girls will definitely be coming to my wedding."

Graduating student-athletes on the Queens

Jadyn Leong, Kaylee Domoney, Anna Carlson, McKenna Olson, Jaiden Ferguson, Emma Letkeman, Edyn Aasman, Tess Pearman

"For Talbot and me, it's tough to see good people leave, but it's important to see good people leave. We are happy that they played a big part in the legacy of the program," said Wandler.

"Leaving as better people is what we try to accomplish. It's always a special moment at this time of the year. It's tough for coaches, but a tremendous honour to have spent five or six years getting to know some of them."

Jon Walsh Memorial Scholarship

The scholarship is awarded to a dedicated student-athlete who is pursuing the sport they love while contributing to their community.

2021/2022 Queens recipient – Red Deer's Sydney Rix, a Bachelor of Education Middle School student

Rix (12)