Back in the win column: Rattlers men’s volleyball team snaps 8-game slide with win over Kings

By RYAN MCCRACKEN on November 18, 2019.

NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN
Medicine Hat Rattlers’ Jovan Stepanovic (left) spikes the ball through Red Deer Kings Mark DeWit (8) and Thomas Wass (3) during an Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference men’s volleyball game on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019 at the Snake Pit.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken

The losing skid is over.

The Medicine Hat Rattlers men’s volleyball team dug their way out of an eight-game slide with a four-set victory over the Red Deer Kings (25-21, 27-25, 21-25, 25-20) on Saturday afternoon at the Snake Pit, ending a rut that covered four weeks on the calendar.

“We’ve been so close for so long,” said head coach Kim Stonehouse, whose Rattlers held a two-game lead on Red Deer Friday before falling in five. “That was a tough one (Friday). We were playing good volleyball, we had a two-game lead. But Red Deer is a good team, they pushed back. We’re young and that came through a little bit, but the guys are working really hard in practice and they deserved this win. This is big.”

The victory held up as Stonehouse’s first since taking over coaching duties with the men’s team. Former head coach Mark Porter stepped away from the squad on Nov. 5, prompting Stonehouse to assume the role for both of Medicine Hat’s volleyball teams.

Rattlers libero Ty Moline says the win was a long time coming, especially given the team’s recent bout with adversity. But Moline says the team’s veteran players served as a bonding agent through the tumultuous time – and they never shook the belief that they’d bounce back.

“It’s never easy to have a coach for half the year then get a new one halfway through,” said Moline, who recorded a match-high 11 digs in the win. “Our leaders have done a really good job walking us through this process … and it’s good to see the young guys respond.”

The rebound victory comes against one of the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference’s top squads, standing as Red Deer’s second loss of the season. They fell to 6-2 with the loss, while Medicine Hat climbed to 2-8.

“We had three close sets that we could have closed Red Deer out (Friday),” said Moline. “We re-evaluated last night and talked about what we could do better to close it out, and it was good to see that come through.”

Jovan Stepanovic had a game to remember for Medicine Hat, racking up a season-high 17 kills to lead the Rattlers back into the win column. Nikola Sreckovic set up 31.

“(Stepanovic) plays with a lot of heart,” said Stonehouse. “We asked him to do what the team needed him to do, and he did exactly that.”

Carter Hills led the Kings with 13 kills in the setback, while JJ Graham dug out 11 and Thomas Wass set up 33.

Women fall in four

The Medicine Hat Rattlers women’s volleyball team fell to 4-6 on the ACAC season following a four-set loss to the Red Deer Queens (25-23, 25-14, 20-25, 25-17) on Saturday at the Snake Pit.

Amber Stigter led Medicine Hat’s offence with 10 kills in the loss, while Molly Marie set up 17 and Shaya Suchy dug out 16.

Tess Pearman powered the Queens to victory with a 16-kill performance, while Kaylee Domoney dug out 20 and Kelly Heinemann set up 38.

The win moved Red Deer to 6-2 on the season.

The Rattlers return to action for back-to-back games against the Broncos on Friday and Saturday in Olds.