Trojans stopped in five
RED DEER, ALTA., (Feb. 1, 2019) — Errors at inopportune times. That was the story of the night for the SAIT Trojans women's volleyball team.
The Trojans kept digging themselves a hole and clawing their way out of it, but could not do enough to earn victory in a 3-2 (25-22, 24-26, 27-25, 20-25, 17-15) loss to the Red Deer College Queens in their Friday night Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) game played in Red Deer, Alta.
"It's one of those games where you say afterwards, 'We have to be better'," said Trojans head coach Art O'Dwyer. "We have to get our act together and play a little more solid. . . From now on, that's the deal if we want to go far."
SAIT falls to 13-6 on the season. Red Deer improves to 13-8.
After trading the first four sets, the teams went to a fifth and final one to decide things.
SAIT got off to a slow start in the last set, as errors and miscommunication put them in an early 4-1 hole. The Trojans chased and chased, and eventually tied the set up at 12-12 on an attack error by the Queens.
With SAIT now up 14-13 and with game point at their fingertips, yet another service error allowed the Queens back into the match, which they would eventually close out with a 17-15 win.
"The reality is, we were in control of what happened. It wasn't that they were doing anything we couldn't handle," O'Dwyer stated. "It shows that we have to execute at the right times, or we're not going to win."
Trojans rookie Anika Dyck (1st year, Calgary, Journalism) recorded a team-best 14 kills to go along with 11 digs and one service ace. Teammate Hayli Hinchey (5th year, Edmonton, Alta., Bachelor of Business Administration) added 13 kills and 14 digs.
Former Trojan Erin Neufeldt led the way for the host Queens with a game-high 18 kills.
The teams will finish their weekend set Saturday night at SAIT in a 6pm start.