Clippers stay Undefeated over Weekend at Snake Pit.
The still undefeated Briercrest Clippers headed back in to the Snake Pit for an afternoon rematch against the Medicine Hat College Rattlers. Hoping to keep their perfect season alive, the Clippers hoped to take advantage again on offence. The Rattlers looked to use home court advantage to play spoiler. Coming out strong early the Rattlers jumped out to a 5-2 lead. The Clippers started to click again on offence and battled back to take a 9-7 lead with the help of a Becky Garner ace. The Clippers again showed why they were undefeated with a strong serving game, and strong offence, Briercrest continued to pull away 13-8 forcing Medicine Hat to take an early timeout. The Rattlers made a side-out right away and looked to build momentum at a critical juncture of the set. With setter Molly Marie serving, the Rattlers chipped away at the Clipper lead coming back to tie the set at 14. Taking the lead on the next point, the Rattlers looked to continue this momentum but the Clippers took their first timeout to calm down the game. Able to come out of the break to score, the Clippers took back the momentum as they took a 17-15 lead. The 2 point lead held for the next two points as the teams traded side-outs. The Clippers again took control with their service, handcuffing the Rattlers serve receive. With the Clippers up 21-16, the Rattlers took their second timeout in an effort to regain some momentum. Able to trade side-outs, the Rattlers still trailed late in the set. Able to score an ace, Dryden Gris brought the Rattlers within two before a Clippers side-out. With the clippers up 24-21 they had a chance to serve for the set. An error still gave the Clippers a chance to side-out to win the first. They only needed one chance to take a 25-22 first set victory.
The second set started out with both sides trading quick side-outs for the first 2 points. Another trading of serve and side-out saw the teams looking very balanced at the beginning of the second set. The Rattlers took another small early lead with a block from Megan Hoeber and 2 Dryden Gris aces. This lead continued as the score worked its way up. The Rattlers held a 8-4 lead but the Clippers were able to stay close coming up with well timed points. Briercrest battled back within 1 trailing 7-8, tying it on the next point with an ace. The Clippers again moved ahead in the middle portion of the set going up 12-8 forcing the Rattlers to take a timeout. The teams leveled off again and traded side-outs with the Clippers holding a slight advantage. A few long rallies saw both sides coming up with scramble digs and extending plays. The Clippers took advantage of these and were able to jump out to a 20-14 entering the late stages of the set. The Clippers continued to hold their lead as the set entered the late stages putting a stranglehold on the set going up 23-19. The Rattlers held serve but the Clippers made a quick side-out gaining a chance to serve for the set. Able to convert, the Clippers took the second set 25-20
The third set opened with the Clippers missing the opening serve but able to make a quick side-out to level it at 1. The Clippers were able to carve out the first 2 point lead of the set going up 6-4. The Rattlers came right back to take a 7-6 lead before the Clippers tied it at 7. The Rattlers took a small lead as the set settled in to the teams trading side-outs and serves. The set saw itself tied at 12 as the teams looked much more evenly matched in the set. The score slowly crept up as the teams continued to trade points and serves. The Rattlers goined a small lead again late, up 19-16 and forcing the Clippers to take a timeout. The Rattlers scored coming out of the break and took a 20-16 lead late in the set. With another quick point, the Clippers quickly took their second timeout down 21-16. The Clippers came out of the break to score 2 straight before they could respond. The Rattlers went up 24-18 and were able to serve for the set. They only needed one chance to take the 3rd set 25-18.
With the Clippers up 2 sets to 1, the Ratters needed another win if they hoped to extend the match to a 5th set. Hoping to avoid the sudden death 5th, the Clippers looked to end it quickly, able to take the first two points, the Clippers were off to a good start. The Rattlers responded with a big block but the Clippers again responded quickly. Able to get off to a fast start the Clippers took a 9-5 lead early on. The Rattlers started to quickly chip away reducing the Clipper lead to 2. The Clippers from here extended their lead to 4 again winning 2 long rallies. The momentum kept switching back and forth between the sides with each team going off for 2-3 points in a row. The Clippers held a 15-11 lead but the Rattlers continued to hang around just out of arms reach. Briercrest was able to take over going up 18-12 with the help of some Rattler errors. This forced the Medicine Hat side to take a timeout. This break did not help as the clippers came out of the break and scoring the next 2 going up 20-12. The Rattlers started to come back but still had a long way to go as they came back to trail by 5, 20-15. Able to score the next point as well, the Rattlers looked to take advantage of a long rally winning the point and trailing 17-20. This forced the Clippers to take their first timeout. This iced Rattlers server Maddie Edwards and saw the clippers take a 22-17 lead. They extended this again with 2 aces going up 24-17 and giving the Clippers a chance to serve for the match. They did not convert but it was only a matter of time as the Clippers took the fourth set 25-20 and 3 sets to 1 remaining undefeated.
The ACAC Players of the game were Kirsty Kindrachuck for Briercrest and Amber Stigter for MHC