Rattlers hang on to win nailbiter in Red Deer

The Medicine Hat Rattlers men’s volleyball held on to force a fifth set then stole away a wild 19-25, 25-23, 1625, 30-28, 15-13 victory from the hands of the Kings on Friday night in Red Deer.

KeAndre Evans led the way with 18 kills while Alfred Dalevik and Edvard Nordlund both added 12 to power Medicine Hat to a perfect 5-0 run to start the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference season.

Austyn Ducharme bolstered the defence with nine digs, while Evans added six and Nordlund had four, and Nikola Sreckovic kept the offence clicking with 41 assists in the victory.

Regan Fathers had a match-high 31 kills for Red Deer, Thomas Wass had 52 assists and Ben Holmes added eight digs on defence.

The loss leaves Red Deer at 3-2 on the year.

The Rattlers women’s volleyball team was handed a three-set loss by the Queens on Friday night at Red Deer College (25-21, 25-22, 25-15).

Amber Stigter and Brooke Christie both had eight kills and Janelle Neyron added seven more but the Rattlers were unable to break through Red Deer’s defences and slipped to 3-2 on the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference season.

Shaya Suchy led Medicine Hat’s defence with 19 digs and Jennifer Saj added 24 assists.

Emma Holmes led Red Deer with 12 kills, while Britt Davis added nine with 13 digs to push the Queens to 25 on the year.

The Rattlers and Queens return to the court in Red Deer for a rematch Saturday afternoon.