Rustlers dispose of Ooks in three | Meridian Booster February 5

Stellar backcourt defence coupled with a strong presence at the net carried the Lakeland College Rustlers women's volleyball team to a hard-fought home-court win.

The Rustlers (19-1) battled to a 25-21, 25-13, 25-21 victory against the Northern Institute of Technology (NAIT) Ooks (14-6) at the Lakeland Gym on Friday night.

Outside hitter Shelby Becker led the charge on defence with an unrelenting desire to put her body at risk for digs in the backcourt, while front line defenders Alyssa Grondin, Chelsea Stanley and Ahnika Kuse did their best to stop any hits reaching farther than a few feet past the net.

"There is nothing more exciting than getting your hands over the net and the ball goes straight into your hands and back down on the other side," said Grondin, a fifth-year middle for the Rustlers. "It's an unreal feeling."

The Ooks carried the play at the beginning of the first set going up 7-6 until Becker helped the Rustlers rattle off seven straight points on an ace, a kill from mid-court through a couple of Ooks blockers and a diving dig in the backcourt to save her serve.

Jamie Bain led the Ooks back to an 18-18 tie with an ace, but a couple of return errors and Stanley spikes ensured the Rustlers a win.

The hometown girls controlled the play from the opening serve in the second set going up 5-2 early and 12-8 midway through the frame on Bailee Weiler kills. Becker served up two straight aces late in the set to put her team ahead 21-12 with Belle de Vries scoring the winning point on a hit past a couple of Ooks blockers.

The teams battled back-and-forth to start the third and deciding set with a Grondin block and Kuse ace to the backline bringing the Rustlers to a 15-12 lead.

The Ooks' Julia Donnelly, on a spike into mid-court, and Emma Norenberg, with an ace, gave the team a 20-18 advantage late, but three straight kills by Kuse coupled by two blocks courtesy of Grondin got the Rustlers back in gear. Rustlers setter Rae Sigurdson notched the winning point on an ace.

"Shelby's defence was amazing today," said Grondin.

"We were just all rounded good at crucial times in the game and that was very good for us. Also, Ahni was very strong on the left side."

Story provided by:  Jamie Harkins, Meridian Booster