Volleyball Teams sweep Vikings
The Rustlers Volleyball teams competed in a home and home series vs the Augustana Vikings this past weekend in hopes of adding some victories to the win column.
Friday night, on the Make Some Noise for Mental Health night, the women started the night off against the Vikings, who were just behind them in the north standings. The Rustlers started the night off with a fairly solid performance defeating the Vikings handily in the first set 25–15. The Vikings fought back winning sets 2 and 3 by scores of 26–24 and 25–21. The Rustlers had to dig deep and rely on some of their veterans to make a resurgence in game 4. The team worked hard and earned a 25–21 victory setting up the fifth nd final match where the Rustlers came from behind to take the set 15–10 and the match 3 games to 2. Freshman Avery Bates led the Rustlers with 17 kills and 7 stuff blocks while Jenay Varga chipped in another 15 kills to lead the team to victory.
Saturday the Rustlers traveled to Camrose where they battled hard in the first set but lost 25–22. In the next 3 sets, the Rustlers got into a rhythm and played solid a game as a team defeating the Vikings by scores of 25–13, 25–13, and 25–14 to win the match. Jenay Varga led the Rustlers with 12 kills and Avery Bates added 11 more and 4 stuff blocks to secure the victory. Earning two wins over the weekend gives the Rustlers a little breathing room atop the ACAC north division.
The men's team was hoping to build off their previous weekend's win over the north division-leading NAIT Ooks. The match was extremely tight against the Vikings through the first two sets with the Rustlers squeaking out two close victories 26–24 and 25–23 before taking the third set 25–22. It was a little bit of redemption for the Rustlers who were defeated by the Vikings on home court before Christmas. The outside hitters led the offensive charge for the Rustlers with Cameron Jones scoring 10 times and Tylie Montgrand and Mason Short chipping in 9 each.
Saturday the Rustlers were hoping to make it 3 wins in a row and to even their season record to 6 and 6. The Rustlers got off to a quick start taking the first set 25-20. The team gained momentum from the victory and never looked back adding a 25–16 second set victory and finally a 25–13 win in set 3 to take the match. Tylie Montgrand led the Rustlers with 11 kills and Brady Cole also had a solid performance for the Rustlers with 4 kills 3 aces and 4 stuff blocks.
Next up for the Rustlers will be a series at home against the Grande Prairie Wolves. Friday the games will be at 6 pm and 8 pm and on Saturday, day 2 of the doubleheader, the start times will be 1 pm and 3 pm.