Chi Chi Chuks-Mady led the Mountaineers with 13 points in a four-set loss to Redeemer (Jan. 24)//Photo by Elia Koolsbergen

The women’s varsity volleyball team started another game with excellent execution, ball control and defence to gain a one set lead when they travelled to Redeemer University College (Jan. 24). But that was only set the Mountaineers could claim dropping a four-set loss  (23-25, 25-22, 25-22 and 25-19) to their cross-town rivals.

The three sets that went the Royals’ way left the same questions unanswered for the players and their coach. What does the team need to do to execute to their maximum potential for an entire match?

“I don’t even know, like, I wish I knew but it’s like we have the energy and then we kind of lose it,” said Mohawk’s Kristen VanHartingsveldt. “I don’t know. It’s hard to tell, really.”

“It always starts off hot then we just kind of dwindle down”

Mohawk held the lead for most of the second set but too many errors allowed the Royals to cut into the lead and overtake the visiting Mountaineers. After the deflating second set loss, the women were only able to take the lead in a set once more in the fourth set when a Mackenzie Lawrence ace fell in for a 5-4 lead.

The women looked upset with their play after the second set, hanging their heads, not able to shake off the previous points scored on them.

“My philosophy is they call it ‘the past’ for a reason because you can’t change it it’s gone,” said head coach Andy Nicholson.

“That was the history these kids had. Every coach in the league knew: you get a bit of a lead on them and they don’t come back.”

Mohawk has been swept in their season series with Redeemer, a team they used to be able to handle regularly. Now it looks as though the 3-10 Mountaineers could miss out on the playoffs for the first time in several seasons.

The Straatsma sisters, Curtiss and Erika, had strong games again against Mohawk with fifteen and fourteen points respectively. In the game, Erika Straatsma’s 11 kills helped her set the Redeemer record for career kills now at 497. She is on pace to break the record of career total points (645). Alumni Allison Lammers held the kills record and still owns the career total points record.

Curtiss Straatsma led the game with 15 points while her sister, Erika, was right behind her with 14. Chi Chi Chuks-Mady led the Mountaineers with 13 points.