NAIT Sweep Clippers
The NAIT Ooks hosted the Briercrest Clippers on Thursday night in Edmonton. Both teams braved the cold and battled hard for their first ACAC Games of 2024.
The Clippers took an early lead in the first set with strong kills from Faith Buhler. The Ooks battled throughout the set to close the gap, finding points from hitter Charlotte Vandenelzen. Strong defensive plays from Anika Dyck helped the Ooks draw even to the Clippers. The winning point of the set was on an ace serve from Ook's Makenna Doyle.
The first set ended at 25-22 for the Ooks.
The second set started on a high note for the Clippers as Julia Beer delivered 2 kills for Briercrest as they once again started to pull away from the Ooks. At 11-6 for the Clippers the Ooks called a time out hoping to switch the momentum of the game. Slowly but surely the Ooks battled back, forcing Briercrest to take their first time out of the match. The two teams went point for point for the rest of the set. Tanisha McQueen of the Ooks was especially strong for NAIT as she delivered solid blocks to keep the set within one. This pressure from the Ooks led the Clippers to use their second time out of the set.
The Ooks took the second set 25-22.
Both teams came out swinging in the 3rd set with kills from Ooks Mattea Callihoo and the Clippers' Julia Beer. The Ooks took an lead in the set, at one point pulling away 12-7. Callihoo had an outstanding set with more kills and blocks to keep the Ooks strongly in the lead. At 18-11 the Ooks called a time out. Despite a solid effort from the Clippers, the Ooks continued to led through the set.
Players of the Game:
Briercrest Clippers| #11 Julia Beer
NAIT Ooks| #11 Anna Atcheynum