Ooks Beat Rustlers in a Four Set Thriller

The NAIT Ooks hosted the Lakeland Rustlers at the NAIT gymnasium on Friday night. Both teams currently sit in the top 3 of the ACAC standings.

The first set started strong for the Rustlers as Gabriel Bjorkas racked up 3 unanswered aces, clearly rattling the home team Ooks. After an early NAIT timeout Jarod Roberts clawed the Ooks back into the match with an assertive kill from the outside. NAIT took the lead with them dominating the net with huge kills from Shae McIntyre and left the Rustlers scrambling to catch up. As Lakeland continued to struggle at the net head coach Taylor Dryer called their first timeout.  However, they were unable to close the gap and the Ooks took the set 25-19

Ooks won the set 25-19 and led the match 1-0

In the second set NAIT came out strong with Ben Kieser making a great tip giving the Ooks the first point of the set. Consistency from the Ooks allowed them to lead halfway through set. Not to be outdone, the Rustlers found success at the net from Keifer Sinclair, who finished an essential kill to keep the Ooks within striking distance. Shae McIntrye also added to the Ooks points, winning an essential joust to maintain the Ooks lead. At 22-15 for the Ooks, the Rustlers called a time out hoping to adjust accordingly and swing the momentum of the second set.

Despite some late set kills from the Rustlers, the Ooks won the set 25-21.

The third set saw the first Rustlers lead of the match as the boys from Lakeland found success through the middle of the court. Just as the Rustlers lead was about to become uncatchable, Ooks setter Karter Godin placed a dime for Benjamin Kieser's kill, injecting some much needed energy to the Ooks offence. However, the Rustlers were up to the challenge, maintaining a solid lead in part due to outstanding efforts from their outside blocker Brock Tomyn. The Rustlers eventually won the set on a kill from Bjorkas.

Rustlers won the set 25-20.

The fourth set had constant action from both sides as the teams went point for point. The Ooks struggled with service and receiving errors early in the set and had to rely on a powerful kill from Wyatt Turnbull for some offensive action. On the other side of the net the Rustlers once again rattled the Ooks defense with service aces coming from Tomyn. Near the end of the set the Ooks took the lead and at 23-21 for the Ooks the Rustlers called a timeout. Despite vallant late efforst from the Rustlers, the Ooks' momentum proved too strong and they won the match.

The Ooks won the fourth set and the match with a score of 25-21.

Players of the Game

Lakeland Rustlers | #3 Gabriel Bjorkas

NAIT Ooks | #1 Mason Gorski