Broncos win epic five set match against MHC

Olds College Broncos men's volleyball team won an epic 3-2 (20-25, 25-22, 25-23, 31-33, 16-14) match over the Medicine Hat College Rattlers Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Ralph Klein Centre. This was the first time that Olds defeated Medicine Hat since Olds College rejoined the ACAC in 2012-13 and also this third win of the year is the most wins that they have had in a season since that their re-entering the ACAC.

Medicine Hat jumped out to a 7-2 lead to start the first set, largely off the serve of KeAndre Evans. The Broncos came back slightly to bring the score to 8-5 and then 9-7. River Thomas had a monster kill and then Medicine Hat extended their lead to 13-8 and then 15-9. The Broncos had a small comeback to make the score 15-13, highlighted by a River Thomas service ace and Lukas Dragicevic block. The teams continued to trade two points at a time, until Medicine Hat was able to have an extended run to make the score 19-14 and then 21-15. The Broncos then went on a short run before Medicine Hat brought the score back to 22-17. The teams played side out ball until the Rattlers took the set 25-20.

The Rattlers jumped out to a 2-1 lead to start the second set. The teams went back and forth with neither team able to take a substantial lead until Medicine Hat took a 6-3 lead. They were able to maintain a two to three point lead until the Broncos went on a run and tied the score 6-6. Neither team was able to take control of the game with the teams playing side out ball. The Rattlers went on a run to give them a 15-12 lead before the Broncos went on a run to bring the score to 15-14. Thomas Pugsley had a nice dump to bring the score to 17-15 for MHC. Lee Lappenbush served the Broncos into a 19-17 lead and forcing a Rattlers timeout after a Haiden Hurtig kill. Medicine Hat scored out of the timeout, but the Broncos were able to extend their lead to 22-20 with Haiden Hurtig up to serve. The teams then played sideout ball before Braden Bates got an ace to bring the score to 24-21. The Broncos took a timeout and a Thundersky Walkingbear kill brought them to a 25-22 win!

The Broncos stepped out to a 4-1 lead in the third set before Medicine Hat tied the score up 4-4. The teams then played sideout ball until Medicine Hat took a 9-7 lead. The Broncos responded back to tie the score 10-10. The teams went back and forth exchanging the lead until the Broncos took a 20-18 lead. They were able to maintain their two point lead even extending it to 22-19 and forcing a MHC timeout. The Rattlers brought the score to 22-21, forcing an Olds timeout. Medicine Hat scored out of the timeout to tie the game 22-22, but the Broncos immediately got the ball back and then put up a huge group block to take a 24-22 lead and force another MHC timeout. Medicine Hat scored out of the timeout, but then a long serve gave Olds a 25-23 win.

The Broncos jumped out to a 13-9 lead in the fourth set and forced a Medicine Hat timeout. Medicine Hat responded by chipping into the lead and taking a lead which they held until Olds tied the score 20-20 off the serving of Thomas Pugsley. The teams continued to trade points with Olds taking a 23-22 lead and forcing a Medicine Hat timeout. Olds held one point leads several times until Medicine Hat took a 28-27 lead and forced a Broncos timeout. The Broncos tied it up out of the timeout but KeAndre Evans responded again to give MHC the lead. The teams kept exchanging one point leads before MHC finally prevailed 33-31 to send the match to a fifth and deciding set.

The fifth set started out with the teams exchanging points and neither team taking more than a one point lead until a wall of a block gave Olds a 5-3 lead. A huge block helped Olds maintain their lead, but the teams continued to go back and forth. Olds had an 8-7 lead at the break. The teams continued to swap points, with Lukas Dragicevic setting up an amazing block to give Olds a 10-9 lead. He followed that up with another well timed block to give Olds an 11-9 lead. Medicine Hat called timeouts at 13-12 and 14-12 for Olds. Medicine Hat tied the score 14-14 but Olds struck back to win the set 16-14.

The win was the first over Medicine Hat in program history and the third win of the season also marks the highest win total in a season since Olds rejoined the ACAC in 2012-13.

Player of the game for Medicine Hat was Aleksa Zivic with 13 kills and a team high 15 digs and the Pit Barbecue Player of the Game for the Broncos was Thundersky Walkingbear with a team high 17 kills to go with 12 digs.

Broncos held the advantage in digs 75-65 and blocks 13-8 while Medicine Hat held the advantage in kills 57-49 and assists 53-45. Both teams had six service aces. Thomas Pugsley had a team high 40 assists, Jesse Stoddart had a game high 23 digs and River Thomas had a game high six blocks for Olds.

The Broncos host Briercrest College November 29 and 30 to close out the first half of the season. Game times are 8:00 and 3:00 pm respectively. The Saturday games will be Every Child Matters Awareness games.

To learn more about Olds College, the Olds College Broncos and the volleyball teams go to gobroncos.ca; like the Facebook page and follow @OldsBroncos on Twitter and Instagram.