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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: Jan 27, 2023

Briercrest Sweeps Olds on Seniors Night

Box Score
Game Leaders
OC
K: Tabitha Martin - 8
B: Lexi Lafreniere - 1
D: Tabitha Martin - 7
SA: Sarah Merkosky - 3
BC
K: Faith Buhler - 7
B: Rachel Stead - 4
D: Kelsey Simes - 7
SA: Kelsey Simes - 7
Team Stats
Full stats

by Jeff Misener

In women's volleyball action, the Briercrest Clippers (6-7, 5th in South Division), fresh off a weekend sweep of Medicine Hat, looked to continue their winning ways against the winless Olds College Broncos. With playoff positions still in flux, the hosts were intent on bringing their best effort and mindset. Additionally, the Clippers prepared to celebrate two graduating athletes on their fine careers, setter Jess Zacharias and outside hitter Kelsey Simes.

Olds middle hitter Camryn McDougald opened her team's account with points on her first attacks. For Briercrest, pinpoint serving by Kelsey Simes and Julia Beer pushed the Clippers' lead to 12-5. Broncos' Sarah Merkosky led her team's outside attacks, but Briercrest setter Jess Zacharias distributed the ball to all her offensive weapons, and the Clippers sailed to a 25-13 win.

The visitors displayed tenacious team defense throughout the early stages of set two, and Tabi Martin powered her squad to a five-point lead, only to have Faith Buhler and Simes erase the deficit. The lead flipped multiple times, with Martin, Merkosky and McDougald featuring for Olds, and Buhler, Beer, and Zacharias starring for the home squad. After Stead crushed a Zacharias set to even the set, Beer served it out, 25-23.

Like set two, the early part of the third frame featured back-and-forth action. With Buhler toeing the service line, and Zacharias and Stead defending the net, Briercrest soared to a 12-4 lead. A sublime step-around by Stead and forceful line shot by Simes increased the Clippers' advantage to ten. Broncos' Sydney Joyce cut into the lead with some strong serving, and useful efforts by Martin and Milan Schapowal offered Olds a ray of hope, but down the stretch, Briercrest rode the veteran experience of Zacharias to a 25-16 win, sweeping the match.

Player of the Game for Olds College was Kate Sherman with two digs and two aces. Her efforts were complemented by teammates Sarah Merkosky, Tabi Martin, and Lexi Lafreniere. For Briercrest, graduating senior Kelsey Simes received the honour on the strength of six kills, seven digs, and seven aces.