Thunder Open Conference Schedule With Hard Fought Loss

EDMONTON, AB (November 12, 2021) – The Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) Thunder opened their conference schedule on Friday night as they welcomed the Lakeland College Rustlers. After winning the first set, the Thunder were unable to keep up with the Rustlers as Lakeland takes this one 3-1.

The match opened with the Thunder flying as they took an early lead. A set that turned into a back and forth affair, and Thunder were able to take the lead late and withhold pressure from the Rustlers as they won the first set 25-21. The second set was much the same, as the Thunder took a lead early and both teams exchanged leads throughout. The tight play came down to the wire, with the Rustlers taking a late lead to take the second set 25-22 to even things up. The Rustlers were able to carry this momentum into the third set, but the Thunder were able to keep pace, again making this another tight set. However, much like the second set, the Rustlers took a late lead and ran away with the set 25-23 to take a two sets to one lead. The Thunder were able to make things interesting in the fourth set, but they weren't able to overcome the Rustlers attack as Lakeland took the set 25-20 to take the match 3-1. The One Team Sports Players of the Game were #1 Lane Blight for Lakeland and #5 Wyatt Turnbull for the Thunder.

After the game, Thunder head coach Ken McLaughlin commented on his team's performance: "at moments we had Lakeland where we wanted them, but over the course of the match, untimely errors eradicated opportunities for us to close out sets when we needed to be at out best." First year Thunder setter Hunter Ashburn added: "the boys came out hungry and strong in the first set, but we lost momentum after our starts in the second and third sets. This carried over to the fourth set, causing our energy to be low." First year Thunder libero Nathan Lane also echoed this sentiment: "it was a good match, we fought hard at the start but couldn't pull it out."

The Thunder continue their regular season tomorrow night as they visit the Lakeland Rustlers to close out the home and home set. CUE returns home next weekend as they host the GPRC Wolves in a double header Friday night and Saturday afternoon.