NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN - Medicine Hat Rattlers Brooke Christie (5) and Megan Hoeber attempt to block a shot from Briercrest Clippers' Reece Harder during an Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference women's volleyball match at the Snake Pit on Friday.
The Medicine Hat Rattlers women’s volleyball team managed pick up a set against undefeated Briercrest – just the fourth team to accomplish the feat in 17 matches this season – but they ultimately fell short of knocking the unstoppable Clippers off their pace in a 25-13, 25-17, 24-26, 25-18 loss at the Snake Pit.
Outside hitter Amber Stigter led the Rattlers with eight kills in the loss, while Molly Marie set up 18 and Shaya Suchy dug out 20 on defence.
Rebecca Garner powered the Clippers with a 19-kill performance, while Mia Harder and Reece Harder each added 11. Garner also added 12 digs on defence, while Ashley Erickson finished with 38 assists.
Medicine Hat slipped to 8-9 with the loss – good enough for fourth in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference South Division standings. The Rattlers already hold a post-season berth as hosts of the ACAC championships in February.
Briercrest improved to 17-0 with the win. They’ve lost just five sets in the stretch.
The Snake Pit was packed with fans wielding noise-makers and even a drum line for the ACAC’s annual Make Some Noise for Mental Health promotion.
Men’s volleyball
The Rattlers men’s volleyball team was dealt another blow to its playoff hopes following a three-set loss to Briercrest (25-19, 25-15, 25-23) on Friday at the Snake Pit.
With the setback, the Rattlers slipped to 4-13 and will need to win their remaining seven games while relying on a string of losses by either Briercrest or the Red Deer Kings in order to extend their season.
Jovan Stepanovic and Aleksa Zivic each had four kills for Medicine Hat, while Ethan Harder assisted on seven and Zivic dug out seven.
Karym Coleman led Briercrest (11-6) with 17 kills.
Medicine Hat’s volleyball teams return to the Snake Pit for a rematch against Briercrest Saturday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Women’s basketball
Over in Calgary, the Rattlers women’s basketball team pushed past the .500 mark with a 63-49 victory over the Ambrose Lions.
Katelyn Rozdeba led the Rattlers with 19 points and 14 rebounds – 10 on defence – in the victory, which pushes Medicine Hat to 7-6 on the ACAC season.
Tatiana Dutka followed up with 15 points, eight assists and nine rebounds, while Paige Cooper added 13 points with six boards.
Dora Tasovic fueled the Ambrose offence with 15 points in the loss – including a 3-for-5 effort from outside the arc – but the Lions fell short in the overall board battle by a lopsided 55-26 margin and slipped 1-11 with their 11th consecutive loss as a result.
With the win, Medicine Hat is now tied for the fourth and final playoff berth in the ACAC South – however they’ve already punched their tickets as hosts of the championship tournament in February.
Men’s basketball
The Rattlers men’s basketball team fell to 2-11 on the ACAC season with a 90-72 loss to the Ambrose Lions.
Kieron Burgess led Medicine Hat with 27 points and 15 rebounds, while Linden Jackson had a team-high 24 points for the Lions – who jumped to 6-6 with the win.
Medicine Hat College’s basketball teams return to the Snake Pit Saturday to host the Lions in a pair of rematches, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
