Rustlers Men's Volleyball | Weekend Recap - January 31 & February 1, 2020

The Rustlers men's volleyball team split their weekend series with the Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC) Wolves.

On Friday night in Grande Prairie the Rustlers defeated the Wolves 3 sets to 1 (25-27, 25-17, 25-23, 25-13).

The Rustlers would have a slow start to their matchup with the Wolves and would lose the first set in extra points 25-27. They would quickly regroup and win the second set handily, 25-17.

The third set was much closer due to some service errors at key times for the Rustlers, allowing the Wolves the stay in the game. The Rustlers would pull through and win the third set 25-23 to go up 2 sets to 1 heading into the fourth set.

The fourth set was completely Rustler controlled, as they would win the set 25-13, and take the match 3 sets to 1.

The Rustlers were led by second-year outside hitter, Ryan van Oosterwijk with 11 kills, 1 service ace, 2 blocks and 6 digs, earning himself player of the game honours. Fourth-year outside hitter, Matt Peck had 10 kills, 3 blocks and 10 digs for the Rustlers and fourth-year middle blocker, Tyler Williamson had 9 kills, 4 blocks and 1 dig in the match.

On Saturday afternoon, the Rustlers would fall to the Wolves in 4 close sets (23-25, 26-24, 25-18, 27-29).

The Wolves would come out powerful to start the match, and the Rustlers would hold their own until the end of the set where the Wolves would come out on top 25-23 over the Rustlers. The second set was just as close as the first, however, the Rustlers would once again lose the set right at the end, 26-24 to the wolves.

The Rustlers would not let their two close set losses faze them as they would go on to defeat the Wolves handily in the third set 25-18, to force a fourth set.

In the fourth set, the Rustlers and Wolves were battling the whole way through. The set would go into extra points, and after the Rustlers had several match points, the Wolves would capitalize and win the set 29-27 to take the match 3 sets to 1 over the Rustlers.

Leading the Rustlers was outside hitter, Ryan van Oosterwijk with 14 kills, 2 block and 10 digs, and fourth-year right side, Cole Sutherland with 14 kills, 1 service ace, and 12 digs. Sutherland would receive player of the game honours.

Outside hitter, Matt Peck would have 8 kills, and 13 digs in the match, and third-year middle blocker, Brady Cole would have 7 kills, 1 block and 1 dig in the match for the Rustlers.

The Rustlers are currently sitting at 10 wins and 10 losses and battling for a place to qualify for the ACAC Conference Championships in late February. The Rustlers will look to return to the win column on Friday, February 7 to take on the Augustana Vikings on homecourt at 8 pm.