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Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference "To be Canada's premiere collegiate athletic conference by developing and inspiring leadership through excellence in academics, sport and citizenship"
Posted: Feb 10, 2024

Clippers Silence Thunder in Five

Video Box Score
Game Leaders
CUE
K: Emma Thompson - 14
B: Emma Thompson - 1
D: Kara McIntyre - 15
SA: Emma Thompson - 5
BC
K: Rachel Stead - 20
B: 2 Players (#12, #13) - 1
D: Julia Beer - 14
SA: 2 Players (#4, #11) - 3
Team Stats
Full stats

By Jeff Misener

The Briercrest Clippers (11-7) closed their 2023-24 women's volleyball regular season with a contest against the Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder (7-11). The Clippers survived a five set battle against a very determined Concordia team, winning 26-24, 25-22, 23-25, 20-25, 15-7.

Clipper veteran Julia Beer opened the match with a pair of kills and an ace, but Concordia seized the lead as Kara McIntyre and Sydney Horyn enjoyed useful runs on serve. Both squads featured assertive attacks and defended with confidence. With the set tied, Beer and Clipper middle Rachel Stead had some key attacks, but it was Faith Buhler who applied the finishing touches. 

Briercrest carved out a healthy lead in the second as Buhler delivered bombs from all over the court and setter Abby Ulrich handcuffed the Lightning team with her dancing float serve. The feisty Concordia crew dug deep on defense and had moments of joy on the attack thanks to southpaw Emma Thompson and outside Jolene Cooke, and their tenacity paid off with a well-earned lead, but the Clippers stole the set as Stead and Brooklyn Buhler supplied the needed clout. 

The early stages of the third set featured scrappy play by both teams as Faith Buhler and Stead exchanged kills with McIntyre and Horyn. Concordia took charge thanks to strong service runs by Horyn and Cooke, but their momentum stalled as the hosts turned to Stead and Brooklyn Buhler. Cooke tooled the block to give the Thunder the set. 

Concordia threatened to race away in the fourth but Faith Buhler and Stead made good on their offensive chances to even things up. Shortly thereafter, the Briercrest offense sputtered and their reception game showed evidence of uncertainty. Aces from Thompson and Renae Regal allowed the Thunder to storm into the lead, and timely hitting from Thompson and McIntyre kept them in control. 

Early in the final set, Beer brought the heat from the left side, but the Thunder showed they were full of resolve, tying the score. Faith Buhler broke the deadlock and Maria Tsougrianis came off the bench to supply some timely offense, but it was Rachel Stead's powerful presence that sealed the victory. 

Player of the Game for the CUE Thunder was Tanisha Cronin, who aided her team's cause with nine kills and five digs. Rachel Stead had a monstrous game for the Clippers with 20 kills, two aces, and five digs. After the game, Briercrest Athletics celebrated the careers of graduating players Bailey Opseth and Faith Buhler.