By rdnewsNOW staff

going for gold

RDC Queens Volleyball ready for nationals in Quebec

Mar 11, 2020 | 7:30 PM

The stage is set for the 2020 CCAA Women’s Volleyball National Championship as a strong group of eight conference champions and wildcard teams compete for national gold from March 12-14 in Quebec City.

After a silver medal performance at the ACAC Championship, the RDC Queens took some time to recharge before venturing eastbound.

“We came off a very emotional weekend and we expended a lot of energy to get to that point,” said Queens Head Coach Talbot Walton. “That preparation from a playing side is more of maintenance, not trying to introduce anything new. Just reinforce the fact that we’re doing things well and see if we can find a way to be just a little bit more efficient.”

The Queens have gained valuable experience already this season, with more learning opportunities on the horizon.

“If we look at the history of the group of athletes that we have now, getting into that [ACAC] final was definitely new territory for us,” said Walton. “I think there were some lessons that we learned in that final, that hopefully from a mindset perspective, prepare us well for the CCAA’s.”

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On Thursday, March 12 (starting at 1 p.m. MDT) the Queens will begin their bid for national gold against the Fanshawe Falcons, the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Champions. The Falcons have won the OCAA title in back-to-back years.

Eight Falcons are back from last season’s CCAA bronze medal winning team, including two-time OCAA Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year Janelle Albert.

“They have an All-Canadian outside hitter that really hits the ball quite hard,” stated Walton. “From my past experiences, Ontario tends to be a very physical team and usually quite a good size.”

The RDC Queens have their own impact players. Left side hitter Tess Pearman (3.10 kills per set), right side Emma Holmes (3.09), outside hitter Erin Neufeldt (2.12) and middle Alexandria Greenshields (1.63) help lead the RDC charge. The ACAC South Rookie of the Year, setter Emma Letkeman, ranked third in the league with 8.64 assists per set. All-Conference libero Kaylee Domoney averaged 3.47 digs per set and has been a stabilizing defensive presence all season.

Before the Queens and Falcons hit the court, the defending national champion Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners will face the Lynx d’Édouard-Montpetit, the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) Wildcard, at 1:00 EDT. The Mariners won the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) Championship and three of the past four CCAA gold medals.

The host Élans de Garneau, who won the RSEQ title, will play the PACWEST Wildcard Camosun Chargers at 6:00 EDT. The Chargers won CCAA silver in 2017.

Rounding out the opening day, the ACAC Champion Briercrest College Clippers will challenge the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) gold medal winning Holland Hurricanes at 8:00 EDT.

(Brent Forster, RDC Athletics)