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Struggling Rattlers close weekend with pair of losses in Lethbridge

Jan 21, 2018 | 12:41 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Consistency remains the enemy of Medicine Hat College’s volleyball teams, losing both of their games on Saturday night against their rivals from Lethbridge College.

The Rattlers women’s team was looking to sweep their weekend set with the Kodiaks after winning a five-set thriller on Friday at the ‘Snake Pit,’ while the struggling men’s team lost their seventh straight match the previous night.

Medicine Hat trailed early in the men’s game on Saturday, but were able to mount a bit of a comeback and take the lead 21-20.

A Kodiaks service error on set point gave the Rattlers a 25-23 victory in the opener, which was also their first set win of the weekend.

The second set was an absolute battle between the two clubs, with both sides sitting on set point a number of times.

Lethbridge College was finally able to put the set away with a 31-29 victory, tying the match and one game a piece.

That’s as close as the Rattlers would come to winning another set, as the Kodiaks rolled to 25-19 and 25-15 wins in the third and fourth sets to take the match 3-1.

Brazillian teammates Vitor Pereiira and Joao Pedro Freire each led the Rattlers with 11 kills, while libero Kreggan Scharnatta had 10 digs defensively.

Dropping their eighth straight match, the plummeting Rattlers have fallen to a 9-9 record and are now tied for fourth in their division.

Similar frustration on the women’s side for Medicine Hat, losing in straight sets to the Kodiaks on Saturday.

Amber Stigter had four kills for the Rattlers in the opening set, but the Kodiaks were able to hold off a late rally to win 25-23.

Lethbridge College raced out to a 5-0 lead early in the second thanks to a serving streak from Corissa Mildenberger, eventually taking the set 25-17 and putting Medicine Hat’s back against the wall.

The Rattlers tried to mount a comeback by scoring the third set’s first three points, but the Kodiaks proved to be too much, winning the set 25-15 and sweeping the Rattlers in a short match.

Stigter posted a game-high 12 kills in the loss and added five digs, with Brooke Christie and Kennedy Lewis leading that department for Medicine Hat.

Splitting their weekend series with Lethbridge College, the Rattlers slipped to a 5-13 record on the year and are eight points back of a playoff spot.

With just six matches each left on the regular season schedule, Medicine Hat College heads to Calgary on Friday night to kick start a two-game series with the Ambrose University Lions.