SAIT Sweeps Gold from Keyano

The Gold Medal Game between the Keyano Huskies and the SAIT Trojans took place in a loud Medicine Hat College Gym. The Snake Pit was alive as fans from both schools made their way down to the sunny south to watch the game. The SAIT trojans swept their previous match, but the Keyano Huskies would not roll over easily. The start of the set saw serving errors from both sides with neither team gaining an advantage from the free points. The trojans gained a slight advantage at 10-8 leading by the slightest of margins. The SAIT fans were especially loud on any Trojan point, making the Snake Pit feel like a home game. The Trojans used this energy to keep their lead despite a Huskies team intent on taking them down. Extending their lead to 4, the Trojans forced Keyano to take a timeout. SAIT was able to maintain their momentum coming out of the break and fought off a powerful Huskies attack. The Trojans pulled further ahead still on the back of Trent Mounter who was hammer balls over the block. The Huskies started to battle back late in the set, closing the gap from 6 to 3 before SAIT earned a Set Point on the next play, only needing one chance to convert. Trojans took the first set 25-20 in a set that was closer than the score indicated.

The start of the second set was again an even match early. Two big blocks from the Huskies Justin Delorme and Alex Adreszewski swung the momentum to the Huskies favor. Down 4, the trojans called a timeout to regroup. The Trojans came out of the timeout with a quick point, but were answered by the Huskies on the next serve. Teams traded kills as the score moved into the middle of the set the Huskies were pulling away slowly now up 13-7, this caused the Trojans burned their second timeout. The timeout was a good one as SAIT on the back of one of their weaker servers, Rallied back to pull within one and eventually taking the lead. up by 2, 18-16 the Trojans held momentum at a crucial point in the set. Keyano, not wanting to go down 2-0, rallied back to take the lead 23-22. A Keyano block set them up with their first game point. The Trojans answered with a hard kill to trail by one. Keyano took a timeout in order to set up an offence but the Trojans answered with two back to back blocks, earning a set point of their own. An attack that sailed long from the Huskies allowed SAIT to take the second set 26-24, leading now 2 sets to none.

The third set started with teams just trading side-outs. With both teams at 6, a close call went in favor of the Trojans saw a quick momentum swing in their favor. They used this to gain a 3 point lead as the set approached midway. Keyano was never far behind, making plays and staying within striking distance. This payed off as they tied the set at 14. The Teams traded points as the score crept slowly up the scoreboard. The Huskies made two defensive plays in a row to open up a 2 point lead late. Adding another point on big kill from Alex Adryszewski the Huskies lead 21-18 forcing SAIT to take a timeout. The timeout was very effective as the Trojans scored 2 straight to reduce the lead to one. Keyano responded with a big two points now leading 23-20. A point from SAIT had the Huskies bench seeing ghosts of the last set, making them take a time-out. The timeout benifited SAIT on the first play out of the break scoring on a block then again on the next play when Latu'ila put one home. Tied at 23, the Trojans gained the advantage pulling ahead able to serve for the win. On the next serve the Huskies excecuted a perfect 3 touch offence to tie it again. SAIT responded with a 3 touch kill of their own. An ace on the Final serve of the game Spencer Coulter put the game away winning SAIT a Gold Medal.