2025 MVB Championship Day Two Recap
Game 5 Summary: NAIT Ooks 3, Briercrest Clippers 0
The opening game of Day 2 at the 2025 ACAC Men's Volleyball Championships featured the NAIT Ooks and the Briercrest Clippers, with the winner earning a spot in the consolation final. These teams met once in the regular season, with NAIT winning the match three sets to none.
The first set began with teams exchanging missed serves- a theme that continued throughout the opening set. Both teams brought energy to the gym with enthusiasm from their bench. Joel Nickel started off dominant for the Ooks, totalling 4 kills in the first set. Marc Revet continued to be solid for the Clippers, finishing with 3 kills in the opening contest. Despite NAIT's struggles from the service line- 9 service errors in the first set alone- they were able to maintain a lead on the Clippers and ultimately win the set 25-21.
Jeremy Martens directed the Clippers through multiple lanes to open the first set, including kills from fellow ACAC All-Conference player Adam Revet. Despite efforts from the Clippers to gain control of the game, unforced errors allowed the Ooks to widen their lead. Xander van Driel was instrumental in NAIT's offence, with 4 kills in the second set. The enthusiasm from the Ooks bench continued throughout the set but unfortunately resulted in them receiving a yellow card for their actions. Despite an additional five service errors, the Ooks were able to seal the second set 25-20.
NAIT continued to find success with their outside hitters, notably Nickel and Josh Watson who finished with 6 and 10 kills, respectively. Briercrest brought in James Reuss off the bench, who provided energy for the Clippers, but ultimately fell short. NAIT sweeps Briercrest for the second time this season, winning the final set 25-19.
Joel Nickel was awarded the Player of the Game honours for NAIT and 5th year setter Jeremy Martens got the nod for the Clippers.
Game 6 Summary: University of Alberta Augustana Vikings 3, Olds College Broncos 1
The second consolation semi-final game featured the University of Alberta- Augustana Vikings and the Olds College Broncos, with each team playing to extend their season another day. The two teams met a single time during the regular season, with Olds winning in 5 sets. The Broncos were coming off a 5-set loss to the host Lakeland Rustlers, while the Vikings had lost in three straight to the #1 ranked team in the CCAA, the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings.
Both sides began the match aggressively, with attacks coming from both sides of the net. Matheus Franca continued to shine for the Broncos throughout the game, and Fifth year Aidyn Phillips added to the Broncos' cause. Owen Rasmuson of the Vikings established his presence in the middle, which contributed to the diverse offence from Augustana. Setter Sean Vanderzee of the Broncos fed each lane throughout the set, a theme that carried on throughout the rest of the game. Olds capitalized on mistakes made by the Vikings, forcing Varga to take a timeout to regroup his team. Despite the Vikings' continued efforts, the power of the Broncos' hitters proved to be troublesome, ultimately leading to Olds' 25-19 victory in the first set
Boris Kuljanin and Ethan Yodogawa helped Augustana establish an early lead in the set with aggressive attacks from the outside. The Broncos' defence allowed them to stay in the game, with help from Franca and Victor Reis on the offensive side. The Vikings kept the pressure on however, ultimately leading them to a 6-point lead that they were able to maintain for the remainder of the set. A 25-19 victory in favour of the Vikings evened up the match 1-1.
Augustana harnessed the momentum from their second set victory and remained aggressive offensively, allowing them to maintain the lead for the set. A string of errors by the Vikings late threatened their lead, but their resilient offensive efforts, in addition to valiant defensive plays, resulted in another victory, 25-19.
The Vikings entered the fourth set with a kill from Rasmuson, who continued to provide offense for his team. Yodogawa was consistent in his offensive and defensive efforts, providing the Vikings with stability throughout the match. A handful of hitting errors by the Broncos allowed Augustana to establish a lead early in the set, in addition to Franca's offensive attacking. Augustana continued to battle, exchanging hits in a string of rallies that made for an entertaining set. Kuljanin was remarkable in the third set, with Olds seemingly having no solution for the outside hitter. Defensive efforts by Olds forced Augustana to call a late timeout, however, it was not enough as the Vikings emerged victorious 25-20.
Setter Sean Vanderzee was awarded Player of the Game honours for the Olds College Broncos. Augustana Vikings' Player of the Game went to Ethan Yodogawa.
Photo by Sierrah Bennett
Game 7 Summary: Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks 3, Keyano College Huskies 2
The Lakeland College gymnasium was electric for the first semi-final of the day, featuring the Keyano College Huskies and the Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks. Both teams, ranked fifth and seventh in the country, were battling for a spot in the ACAC Final. Keyano entered the match with high stakes, boasting several fifth-year athletes and looking to improve upon their silver medal finish in 2024. Meanwhile, Lethbridge, last year's consolation final champions, was determined to reach the championship bracket this time. Keyano had taken the season series 3-1 back in November, but the Kodiaks entered on a nine-game winning streak.
Both teams brought a strong fan base for the Friday night showdown. Notably absent from the Huskies' starting lineup was senior Joao Cunha, who had played a key role in Keyano's quarter-final victory. The match opened with a massive block by ACAC North Player of the Year Athus Silva, igniting the Huskies' bench. Keyano started 3-0, but the Kodiaks quickly responded, tying the game. Brody Kopec and Rafael Parada led Keyano's offensive charge from the outside, while Nolan Moes and Kohlbe Anderson countered for Lethbridge. The set remained tight, with both teams trading attacks and defensive highlights. At 24-23, a few late Kodiaks errors proved costly, and a dig from Cameran Calhoun sealed the set for Keyano, 25-23.
The second set maintained the high intensity, with Lethbridge storming to a 4-0 lead. Anderson continued making key plays, but Silva's presence at the net helped the Huskies claw back. Preston Yole and Kopec fueled Keyano's comeback, giving them their first lead of the set at 11-10. The Huskies controlled the tempo until a red card on Yole momentarily shifted momentum. Lethbridge capitalized but couldn't slow Kopec, who led Keyano to a 27-25 win and a 2-0 match lead.
With their season on the line, the Kodiaks came out aggressive in the third set. Dyck and Anderson led the way early, showcasing their composure under pressure. Despite Keyano's defensive anchor Anderson King making incredible plays at libero, Lethbridge found their rhythm. A five-point lead forced Keyano into an early timeout, but the Kodiaks carried their energy through, taking the set 25-18.
The fourth set was a battle, with both teams trading attacks. Yole remained a force for Keyano, while Marshall Qually and Ethan Nashim stepped up for Lethbridge. King continued his stellar defensive performance, keeping the Huskies in striking distance. Keyano fought back late, closing the gap to two points, but Anderson's consistency kept Lethbridge in control. A huge block from Moes clinched the set 25-23, sending the match to a decisive fifth set.
In the final set, Lethbridge's hitters continued to dominate, making it difficult for the Huskies to find an answer. Silva battled at the net, but Moes' back-row attacks helped the Kodiaks maintain their lead at the side switch. Keyano pushed back, and a back-row attack violation by Lethbridge gave the Huskies match point at 14-13. However, Anderson responded with a clutch kill, keeping the Kodiaks alive. A pivotal ace from Dyck followed by a Kopec attack kept things tight. Both teams fought for every point until a Kodiaks dig led to a huge kill, setting up match point. A Huskies attack sailed out of bounds, sealing the win for Lethbridge 19-17 and sending them to the 2025 ACAC Final.
Brady Kopec was awarded Player of the Game for the Keyano College Huskies, and Ben Dyck earned the honor for the Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks.
Game 8 Summary: Red Deer Polytechnic Kings 3, Lakeland College Rustlers 0
A near-capacity Lakeland College gymnasium set the stage for the final game of the day, with the stakes higher than ever—a spot in the ACAC Final against Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks. The Rustlers had lost all three regular-season matchups against the CCAA #1 ranked Kings in the past three years, but the rowdy Lakeland crowd threatened to complicate matters for the visiting team.
Right side Aiden Maier opened the game for the Rustlers with a well-placed ball, igniting the crowd. Colby Nemeth quickly reminded the home fans why his team is the top in the country with an early kill, supported by a pair of aces from Brett Lower. Despite the Rustlers starting strong, momentum shifted to the Kings, forcing Lakeland to call an early timeout. The Rustlers remained tenacious in their offensive push, but the Kings consistently countered their attacks. Though Maier proved effective for Lakeland, the Kings' offense overwhelmed the home team, leading to a 25-20 victory in the first set.
Even with Brock Tomyn, a native of Prince Albert, sidelined with an injury, the Rustlers filled the void thanks to solid play from Cameron Craft to start the second set. Gabriel Bjorkas continued to provide stability with steady defensive and offensive efforts. However, the Rustlers struggled with passing, allowing Red Deer's hitters to take control. Lower and Nemeth dominated, despite Lakeland's attempts to slow their momentum. An attack error by the Rustlers sealed the second set for the Kings, 25-22.
Red Deer continued their aggressive play at the start of the third set, causing tensions to rise in the Lakeland gym. Despite a close score, the Kings maintained control throughout the set. Kiefer Sinclair stepped up defensively for the Rustlers, trying to spark a comeback. Lakeland briefly gained a two-point lead, but after a Kings timeout, they dropped six straight points and ultimately could not close the gap, ending their championship hopes with a 25-17 loss in the third set.
Colby Nemeth and Kiefer Sinclair were named the Players of the Game for the Kings and Rustlers, respectively.
The 5th place matchup will take place at 3:00 PM MST between the Vikings and the Ooks, while the hometown Rustlers will compete against the Huskies in the bronze medal match at 6:00 p.m. MST, aiming for victory in their second consecutive attempt. Finally, the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings will face off against fellow south rivals, the Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks, in the 2025 ACAC Men's Volleyball Championship Final at 8:00 p.m. MST.