Clippers Celebrate Straight Set Win Against Feisty Rattlers

By Jeff Misener

A crisp late October afternoon served as the backdrop for a matchup between the Briercrest Clippers and the Medicine Hat Rattlers in ACAC men's volleyball. Relying on their seasoned veterans in key situations, the Clippers prevailed over a determined Rattlers squad, 25-19, 25-15, 25-22.

The early action featured potent attacks from expected sources – Jackson Anderson and Karym Coleman for Briercrest, Nathan Chernik and Jordan McKee for the Rattlers. Clippers' setter Jeremy Martens and newcomer Sam Bender showed up on serve, while Chernik exchanged attacks with Anderson and Adam Revet. Sawyer Krebs mashed several balls to give the Rattlers life, but Anderson closed the set with an ace.

Clippers' middle TJ Ward rejected two Rattlers' attacks to start period two, but McKee crushed an errant pass and split a block in reply. Chernik found success at the net and cashed in on a free ball, but Ward countered by tooling the middle block. Out of a Medicine Hat timeout, the Clippers used aggressive serving and efficient offense to gain the upper hand, with Revet's block on an attack by McKee highlighting the closing action.

McKee zealously dispatched a passing error and Keannen Hamilton handcuffed the hosts on his serve as the Rattlers jumped ahead in the final set, but Ward countered with a set of slippery floaters and Revet delivered the goods in the middle. Krebs and Cayl Bos stepped up to keep the Rattlers close, but Clipper veterans Coleman and Martens showed their quality and negated a comeback. Revet polished off the match by tattooing the attack line.

Player of the Game for Briercrest was libero Brady Watchel, whose statistical contributions (one assist and two digs) complemented his enthusiastic floor leadership. Nathan Chernik starred for the Rattlers, delivering nine kills and five digs in defeat.