Men's Volleyball Weekend Recap | October 21, 2017

October 23, 2017

The Rustlers Men's Volleyball team played host to the Grande Prairie Regional College Wolves for two games over the weekend. The Wolves beat the Rustlers 3-0 on Friday and 3-2 on Saturday.

On Friday, the Wolves defeated the Rustlers in 3 sets (25-19, 27-25, 25-17). The Rustlers got out to an early 9-5 lead in the first set before the Wolves came back to tie the score at 12. The Wolves continued their strong play, taking a 14-12 lead and continued to build their lead, winning the set 25-19.

In the second set, the two teams traded points, with neither one taking more than a 2 point lead. The Rustlers took a 21-18 lead, but the Wolves would come back and lead 22-21. The teams would once again continue to trade points before the Wolves won 27-25. Much like the second set, the two teams traded points for the early part of the third set. The Rustlers got down 18-13 and could not overcome the Wolves lead and lost the set 25-17.

Second year middle Tyler Williamson and first year middle Spencer Roziere each had five kills for the Rustlers. Second year setter Jose Areliano had nine assists, and second year libero Abner Jean Carlo Funez Raudales had seven digs.

Player of the Game for the Rustlers was #6, Tyler Williamson.

Saturday, the Rustlers pushed the Wolves to 5 sets before the Wolves came out with the victory (25-19; 24-26; 25-23; 20-25; 15-12). In the first set, the Wolves came out strong, picking up where they had left off on Friday. The Wolves would win the set 25-19. The Rustlers played much better in the second set, showing that they could play with and challenge the Wolves, as the score was back and forth for much of the set. The Rustlers were able to come out with the win in the set, winning 26-24.

The Rustlers used the momentum from their win in the second set and the home crowd to their advantage as they showed strong play early on in the third set. The Rustlers led 20-17, but the Wolves were aggressive and fought back to tie the score at 22. The Wolves went on to win the set 25-23. In the fourth set, the Rustlers came out strong and determined to win and force a final, deciding set. The Rustlers were able to build a large lead in the set, but the Wolves wouldn't go away easily. The Rustlers had built enough of a lead early on that they were able to hang on and win the set 25-20.

It was clear in the fifth set that neither team wanted to leave without the victory as they went back and forth, fighting for the win. The Wolves took a 7-5 lead, but the Rustlers fought back to tie the set at 11. The Rustlers could not take control of the set, as the Wolves pulled away in the end, winning the set 15-12.

Second year outside Brayden Griffith had 14 kills for the Rustlers, and Roziere had 13. Areliano had 36 assists, and ten digs and Funez had 15 digs.

Player of the Game for the Rustlers was #3, J.C. Funez.

The Rustlers (1-3) return to the court next weekend to take on the NAIT Ooks (2-2). The Rustlers will travel to Edmonton on Friday and play at home on Saturday. The game is set to start at 8:00 pm.