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Red Deer Polytechnic and the Queens Volleyball team are excited to host the 2023 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women’s Volleyball Championships.
The Polytechnic will host the event from this Wednesday to Friday, February 22-25th.Teams from across the conference will arrive on Wednesday, February 22 with matches starting on the following day at 1 pm.
“We are excited to showcase our institution on the provincial stage, welcoming teams, fans, and community members to Red Deer Polytechnic for the ACAC Women’s Volleyball Championship-my first such event as President,” says Stuart Cullum, President of Red Deer Polytechnic. “We are proud of our facilities, including the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre, that benefit learners, partners, athletic teams, and community members. We are looking forward to hosting this dynamic competition.”
The championship games will be played in the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre on RDP’s Main Campus. This accessible gymnasium is 1,748 square metres and can sit up to 1,200 spectators.
The tournament will feature the top four teams from both the ACAC North and South Divisions, including the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens. The winner will advance to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Women’s Volleyball Championships hosted by Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, B.C., from March 8-11, 2023.
Since the first ACAC Women’s Volleyball Championship was held in 1965, the RDP Queens have won 20 provincial gold medals, including eight in a row from 1982-1989. Most recently, the RDP women’s team won the 2022 ACAC Championship after defeating the Lakeland College Rustlers infour sets. Last year the Queens also earned a bronze medal at the CCAA National Championships.
Head Coach Talbot Walton explained having the chance to host the championships and play at home is huge for this team.
“We have done exceptionally well playing at home this year. Road games have been a little bit of a struggle for us, so the comfort level of being in our own gym, sleeping in our own beds, hanging out in our own team room, and having the opportunity to stick to our own routines will be great. Our fan base and facilities are one-of-a-kind. We will have extremely good support from the community, so I think that is what you want when hosting an event like this.”
Before the matches kick-off on Thursday, February 23, an awards banquet will be held for participating teams and award recipients, recognizing outstanding performances and contributions by student-athletes throughout the regular season on Wednesday night, February 22.
Tickets can be purchased online now. For more information about the ACAC Women’s Volleyball Championships, visit the ACAC website
